Kristin Koval's debut novel truly left an impression on me with its storytelling approach and characters possessing conflicting and psychologically complex inner worlds. Upon finishing this story, the question arises: when we choose to act in a certain way, is the outcome better than if we had chosen differently? There is no absolute right or wrong; we must only pay the price for our decisions. It's truly a thought-provoking work. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing the DRC in exchange for my honest review.

Kristin Koval’s debut novel Penitence ended up being a much more complex story than I expected. The novel begins when 13 year old Nora fatally shoots her 14 year old brother Nico. From this prologue, I expected a focus on figuring out the whys of this crime, but the book took a different turn. Rather than focus on why Nora killed Nico, who had recently been diagnosed with juvenile Huntington’s disease and was destined for an early death regardless, the novel focused more on the aftermath of the event in how it affected Nora, her parents Angie and David, and how she was handled within the legal system. Simultaneously, the novel explores another story and timeline, when Angie dated Julian, who becomes Nora’s criminal defense attorney, as a teenager, and how the two of them were involved in an accident which tore their families apart.

Both of these timelines were compelling and over time it became clear that all of the characters were flawed. They were like real people rather than perfect book characters, and everybody made mistakes, some worse than other’s. Over the course of the novel, the idea of forgiveness was explored in how someone can forgive themselves and atone for a bad decision, and how they can forgive other people for theirs. This book is emotional, relatable, and will make you feel angry at times. You will truly grow to both love and hate these characters due to their complexity. The pacing of the two timelines kept me invested in both sides of the story and the writing was enjoyable and easy to read. I felt satisfaction at the end of the book, even though I didn’t get exactly the ending I expected, and thought it was well worth the read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.

After reading the blurb, I was expecting a twist to catch us unawares in the last third of the novel. I had even come up with my own (erroneous!) assumptions about what that twist would be.

As the story bounces back and forth in time, we become aware that some catastrophic event tore the inseparable high school sweethearts, Angie and Julian, apart. No spoilers here but I could not figure out why Julian felt so strongly that - but for Angie's decision to buy a joint and share it while they were skiing with Angie's younger sister, - the ensuing accident would never have happened. So much guilt - and secrecy and cover-ups! I felt compelled to read on despite my confusion over Julian's insistence that Angie's purchase of marijuana was the fatal act that completely altered their lives. (Trust me on this: that section of the novel did not ring true for me. These two mixed up, self-absorbed teens made a bad decision and will have to pay for it for the rest of their lives.

Intrigued already?

Fast forward 15 years and Julian is drawn back into Angie's life - as the defense lawyer for her young daughter.

Nora has confessed to killing her brother, but either due to shock or remorse, she is unable to remember the events of the shooting.

Angie was horrified by her daughter's actions. . Nico, her beloved firstborn son, was suffering from Huntington's disease and the prognosis was not good - but to have Nora take matters into her own hands and halt Nico's physical and mental suffering and his eventual death was something she could not bring herself to forgive.

Angie is portrayed as a very flawed, self-focused woman. She is unable to visit her daughter in prison for quite some time, and when she does manage to overcome her revulsion and anger, she still harbours anger toward Nora. You do get a "twist" of sorts toward the last third of the novel, but I had suspected something of the sort almost from the very beginning.

In the end, we find that Angie is just as guilty as Nora of a few unforgivable actions and choices.

Portions of this book were very well written and I always wanted to come back to this story and find out what happened next, but the ending left me feeling that Angie may have evolved, but she did so at the cost of so many lives. If Angie had given Nora equal attention growing up, maybe Nora would not have taken the fatal actions that she did? My impression of Nora is that she was very much on the periphery of her mother's attention and therefore would not have felt able to discuss and defuse some of the despairing feelings that lead her to take her brother's life. So many avoidable consequences!

I'm rating this one 3.9 out of 5, rounded up to 4 because the writing and characterization were very good, given that this is the author's first novel. Her exposure of the deplorable conditions that young offenders endure left me suitably irate. I would be very interested to read this author's next novel.

My thank to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Wow. This might just be a top read of the year for me! This debut has stunning writing and it’s a story I won’t forget.

Penitence is a family drama that weaves together years of secrets between two families in a ski town in Colorado. I loved having the perspective of every character throughout the story and felt this really contributed to each one’s growth and arc. Every character has their own battle with forgiveness and it’s really moving to see how everyone navigates this differently, especially given the gravity of the topics and shocking realities faced throughout the story.

I can’t recommend it enough! One of those stories that makes you feel for the characters, and will continue to think about it for a long time.

A perfect wintertime read, I’m so excited for its release in February! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this book! I didn’t realize I was reading an authors debut book, because it was very well written, until after I finished reading it. This story tells the lives of two families that are intertwined together by a member of each family. There are so many layers in this story regarding forgiveness and guilt with quite a few twist and turns. I really enjoyed this novel and can’t wait to see what else the author writes.

A very solid read that kept me interested and the characters were intriguing. Never fell flat or boring. Definitely have to read more by this author.

This is an extraordinary debut novel. As the book starts it seems like a book about the aftermath of a 13 year old girl killing her 14 year old brother. The stories of the histories (and presents) of other characters are braided in with the story of trial preparation. The novel explores themes of family, forgiveness, guilt, responsibility, and the sometimes long term or delayed impacts of decisions. There are multiple layers to the stories told, including some surprising twists. My favorite theme was that we are all more than the worst thing we have ever done.

Thank you to Net Galley and Celadon for the ARC if this book.

One of my favorite genres is messy two family stories- the ones where history and current connection make a complicated dance that involves the reader right away. Penitence did just that. I loved the intertwined time periods and the patience the author took to unravel the complicated nature of not only of the relationships but the main plot line. It was an interesting way to discuss the legal system and the way privilege acts as another character when a crime is committed. #Penitence #NetGalley

Penitence

By Kristin Koval

Publication date: February 17, 2025

When a murder happens between a set of Irish twins, one is left dead, the other dead to the mother. As the small community of Lodgepole, Colorado wakes to the gruesome news, finding who to blame for this tragedy starts from the community, to the newspapers, to the parents-David and Angie Sheehan. Martine Dumont is a tired small town attorney two months away from her retirement. She is woken in the pre-dawn hours by a desperate David looking for someone to defend his child, someone he can trust. But with Martine, defending a child, is out of her comfort zone, so she enlists the help of her son, Julian, a New York city defense attorney specializing in children.

As the trial gets closer, everyone is forced to face their past and confront their secrets they have buried long ago. But as the truth is unearthed, will there be blame, forgiveness or remorse remaining?

The cover of the book depicting aspen pine growing on a snow covered ground is just beautiful and sets the stage for this debut novel. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and became lost in the pages instantly as the murder occurs and the characters are introduced. With just the right amount of suspense and drama, I found myself connecting to characters and wanting to know more about them. I also feel the character development was thorough but not overly done. Although, we relive parts of the characters’ past throughout the book, Koval, makes it effortless and easy to follow. Although the author did extensive research for the legal and some of the medical aspects of this storyline she lacked in an understanding of midwives and doulas. With that aside, I still look forward to reading future novels by this author!

Thank you to Celadon Books and NetGalley for the wonderful opportunity to read this beautiful debut novel for an honest review.

4/5 star for this novel

Suggestions for editing:

A line that was confusing for me was on page 37/311. “It’s not the first time Livia’s softer self has been mean-the personality change is part of Alzheimer’s but will always be uneven is the better thing Dr Bartlett said-“

Pg 121/311: “Town is filled with new people…” Is Town suppose to be Lodgepole?

Pg 137/311- Midfifties should be mid-fifties

Pg 170/311-“Nora killed Nico. I don’t know how I’m suppose to feel”

Pg 171/311-“ and as a confessor, she’s much better than a priest

Pg 193/311-he was probably headed to a bar. Headed should be heading

Pg 263/311- How about you let her plead (should be plea) down to manslaughter…

Pg 271/311-into that one metro area than into all of Colorado, than Colorado plus Utah, Wyoming and Montana.

Pg 277/311-a flaw in the story line- “ he hurt not just her, but Julian, too, by bringing him her to defend Nora.” -David did not bring Jillian to defend Nora, but his mother, Martine, did instead. Also repeats on page 285/311.

Pg 279-280/311- the author makes it seem the doula delivered the baby but this is not legal. A doula has NO formal training. A midwife or a doctor can deliver a baby. A doula can only provide guidance and support. (As a nurse and a former labor and delivery nurse this makes me angry when an author does not research. A simple google search would of answered this for the author). A midwife also would have found fault in the timing of the pregnancy. They are trained to read ultrasounds. And the mid-wife would not be in jeans and a t-shirt for a delivery. A delivery is very messy. (if this is corrected in the novel, I will edit my review).

Pg 286/311- You stole my chance to be a part of Nico’s life.

Could Kristin Koval be the next Jodi Picoult? Penitence is an emotional book that follows two families as they live through the aftermath of a 13 year old shooting the brother she dearly loves. Like a Picoult book, Penitence takes us through Nora's journey as she travels down the cold judicial system. It is told from two sides. One is the side of the defense attorneys Martine and her son Julian, and the other the side of Nora's mother Angie and father David.
On top of this there is an equally compelling story that takes place previously when Julian and Angie were a teenage couple and were involved in Angie's younger sister's death. Their love was clearly very strong and they planned on a life together. The story flows seemlessly between the question of how Diana, the sister died, why Julian and Angie broke up, Nora's trial and the aftermath of Nico's death.
This is a book that is truly heartbreaking. Each carries their own backstory. It is clear Angie is unsure if she can forgive Nora for killing her son Nico. Which is the ultimate betrayal? Must a parent pick a side? Nico had Huntington's disease. Did Nora shoot him as an act of mercy or anger? In this story we see Martine act as a protector of both families. First she tries to protect Julian after Diana's death, now when she is past retirement age, she tries to protect Nora and Angie. Even Julian's career choice was not accidental.
As can be seen each character has much to add to this story. Not a single person or action is wasted. The book is full of surprises, perfect for an in depth discussion in a book club. Terrible if you cannot give away spoilers! I loved reading this, read it in two days and would highly recommend it.

I'd like to thank Celadon Publishers and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. These opinions are my own.

Penitence by Kristin M.E. Koval is a tough one for me to review.
I had to wait a few days after finishing this one to process why this book just didn't resonate with me.
All of the elements were there; it just fell short for me.

While there were plenty of all of the right characters to support the story, they just felt one dimensional. I disliked most all of them. I very much disliked the main characters. Although I feel like I was supposed to relate to them on an emotional level, maybe have empathy for them and their situations, I just couldn't feel anything stronger than annoyance and dislike.
This was a result of the choices they made, but didn't grow through.
A tragedy that occurred at their hands in high school was never resolved; just swept under the rug as it always had been.
The disfunction in all of their lives was over the top.
There was nothing to redeem any of them in my eyes.

I was very much bothered by the fact that the "main event" that brought Angie and Julian back together for a time was not really dealt with. Not really the main event in the story.
Mental illness was mentioned, but not supported by anything other than just words.
A young lady is locked away for doing something horrendous, but the issues behind why she did it, were just not mentioned; not examined beyond a suggestion of mental illness. It just seemed to me that something so drastic should have been the main focus of the story. As a mother, I would have liked to see Angie focusing on her daughter rather than rehashing a failed relationship from high school and college.

The legal aspects of the story, the attempt to shed some light on the juvenile justice system, the bargaining, etc. also just fell flat. The "bargaining" was more manipulation and bribery than law-based.

Topics that should have been rife with emotion just fell very very short for me.

Maybe I missed the point of the book?

This one was 2.5 star read for me. Rounded up to 3.

Thank you to Netgalley and Celadon books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I believe this is a debut novel, so, very nice job, overall. Angie and David Sheehan of small ski town Lodgepe, Colorado have kids, Nico, 14 and Nora, 13. A truly shocking murder occurs at their home (ooooh, I love me a kid who kills.). The couple turns to local attorney Martine Dumont for help. The rub is that Martine is the mother of Julian, a criminal defense attorney in NYC and the former love of Angie’s life. So, a little messy.

Plus did I mention that the gun used was David’s? And that Nico had a terminal disease? And that Julian and Angie share a big secret? So much going on here.

This one kept me turning the pages, even though I guessed the big twist early, and you likely will too (and it’s totally unforgivable, IMHO.). However, the author did a good job with the various elements of the story. I liked that Angie was so very, very angry. I liked that there was a lot of discord in the families…that’s what real families are like. Enjoyed it thoroughly.

I loved this book. Great characters. The story had a lot going on, and there was a complicated back story that was vivid, engaging, and felt very real. The small town setting description was good. New York City was a good backdrop as well in parts of the book, but I felt throwing 9/11 in the mix didn't add much to the story. The main character felt a little unglued in her actions at times. Impulsive. Overall though, an engaging and emotional read about impossible choices that many have to make in life. It was relatable and well-written.

Brilliant, engaging, thrilling from start to finish. Loved the atmosphere. The writing was both stylish and easy to read. I'd read more from this author.

An unimaginable incident occurs ultimately involving several families and generations. This is a poignant story of love, lost and found but always changing as time passes.
It is one of the most moving and emotion filled stories I have ever read. It is also one the the best books of the year.

This book is much more than a legal thriller. It was a riveting, gut wrenching story with a variety of believable and unique characters. The reader is taken on a journey with two connected families dealing with past/present tragedies while experiencing a myriad of emotions from grief, hope, blame, love and most importantly, forgiveness.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A thought provoking and devastating story that spans decades and settings between Colorado and New York. When a 13 year old shoots and kills her brother lives are shattered. Two families with a complicated and troubled history must confront events in their past as they navigate the current tragedy. It is a story of complicated families, redemption and forgiveness. I enjoyed and recommend this book.

I’ll start out with the good. She’s a very good writer with smooth, flowing prose and a well developed enfolding of the story. Good transitions between past and present. However, one of the main characters, Angie, demonstrated no penitence whatsoever. I always enjoy an author who makes me hate a character, but I don’t think that was the author’s intent. This would be a great book club read as it provokes much discussion and ranting. Thank you so much NetGalley and Celadon Books for the opportunity to read this novel.