Ever since Gina made sure to "accidentally" meet Dr. Owen Whitlock at the hospital, she’s been pretending to be the perfect girlfriend. But she didn’t expect to actually fall for Owen. Now, she’s about to meet his parents at their large, secluded home. Gina knows the dark secrets this family is hiding and will do whatever it takes to keep them from finding out who she really is.

The story reveals its plot early on, but the suspense feels slow and drags on. The pace only picks up around second half of the book.

The tension between Gina and Owen’s mother started off well, but it quickly became repetitive and lost its edge. I found myself getting frustrated as the same situations kept happening. It wasn’t until the last few chapters that the big confrontation finally occurred, but by then, I just wanted to finish the book.

When some secrets were revealed, the main character made some choices that didn’t make sense. After all those years of planning, she still put herself in danger. It felt unrealistic.

Overall, I was disappointed. The twist didn’t surprise me at all because the hints were obvious throughout the book.

Meet The Parents was a page turner of a book! It was told in multiple points of view, which is my favorite! The plot and the characters were all very interesting and well written, There were moments where I didn’t trust anyone. The ending was perfect- it was expertly delivered and completely unexpected. Lots of great twists in this new novel by Emily Shiner. I would absolutely recommend reading this book to other readers

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Emily Shiner delivers yet again! By now, I’m fairly certain that she can do (write) no wrong. Each and every book of hers that I read gets even better. This one is no exception. A claustrophobic domestic psych thriller where you don’t know what REALLY is going on – check. A twisty ending – check. Fast-paced, well-written – check.

“We’re so excited to have you here in our home.” My boyfriend’s mother smiles at me a little too wide. His father’s eyes are hard at the edges. It’s like they’re hiding something. But of course, I already know that
This book had me on the edge of my seat wanting to know more everyone had a motive behind each other

Gina is riding with Owen Whitlock in his Lexus to visit his parents, Grant and Marta Whitlock. Owen is a surgeon and they have only been together for 7 weeks.

When Gina was 8 years old, she was staying overnight with her beloved Aunt Bethany. They always had so much fun together. After watching a movie and eating snacks, Gina went up to bed to wait for her aunt to come tuck her in. After a while, she went downstairs to see what was delaying Bethany. There she was met with voices in the kitchen. A man was threatening Bethany and he ended up killing her. Now, 20 years later, Gina has zeroed in on who this serial killer is and plans on getting revenge. But, first she is ready to meet Owen’s parents. She is so in love with him and he is the kindest man ever.

The Whitlock home is huge and located in a large and remote area. Marta is cold and standoffish to Gina and only wants to shower attention on Owen. He is her son and always wants to come first in his life. Grant is a big man who used to be a drug salesman traveling to different towns over the course of his career. Now, the two of them are enjoying their life in their beautiful home.

Gina does what she can to conceal her dismay at Marta’s rudeness because she is on a mission and keeping her temper is key to doing what she has come here for. Thus begins a dance of fear and determination to carry out her plan. Is murder hereditary?

This book really shocked my socks off. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time I was reading it. The ending was a real shocker. Don’t miss this one!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Gina is 28 years old and works in a hospital. That’s where she meets 41-year-old surgeon, Owen. A short romance blossoms, followed by an invitation to meet his parents, who live in a huge house in a secluded and peaceful spot.

As soon as Gina enters the house, she realised that Marta, Owen’s mother, hates her. Nothing that Gina does is ever good enough and Marta is very quick to point that out. Gina soon discovers that Marta is overly protective of her son.

Grant, Owen’s father, is a bit friendlier, but Gina feels unnerved by his stares.

All of them are hiding something.

Wow! I was blown away by this story.

I was hooked straight from the beginning. I knew that Gina witnessed something horrific as a child, which has had huge impact on her future life.

It was also clear that Grant and Marta knew more about Gina then what they let on.

I loved how this book was written from different points of view. You could really get into the character’s head and see what made them tick.

This book also features a tremendous twist at the end. I couldn’t put it down.

Many thanks to Sarah Hardy of Bookouture for the e-ARC and for my spot on the tour.

Meet The Parents by Emily Shiner
#Meettheparents
#Emilyshiner


Rating 5 stars 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
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Oh boy, what a ride! Intriguing with a twist!
Emily never disappoints

My review
Gina is off to meet Owen's parents. They haven't been dating long. It's clear right away that his mother does not like Gina
Something happened to Gina when she was little, and Marta Owen's mom just may know something about it.
Marta doesn't want Owen to have anyone but her.
Gina is out for revenge. Meeting Owen was on purpose. Get him to fall in love with her. Meet his parents and deal with them. She never intended on falling in love with him back, and this Hard
When Gina gets to the house, strange things happen. Her cell phone charger is suddenly missing, and everything, including the garage, is locked
Gina knows Owen's parents are hiding a secret of the past that can bring them both under. Gina's aunt was killed long ago, and one or both of Owen's parents has answers about what happened
She just needs to stay alive long enough to get the proof she needs and without bringing suspicions to Owen as to what she's up to

Wow. This book held me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I thought I knew the ending until I didn’t! Great twists and turns the entire book!

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'Meet The Parents' by Emily Shiner.

Emily does it yet again!! I genuinely don't think she can make a book that I don't love!! Love, love, loved this book!!!! Absolutely gripping edge of your seat page turner!!! I mean just HOW HOW HOW can an author make each and every one of her AMAZING books EVEN BETTER each and every time???!?!? I must admit that the fact that several of the characters have Whitlock as their surname and it being my surname too, well what can I say!! Definitely extra bonus points for that!!!!

This book is extremely well written with vivid descriptions that really set the scene and put you in the storyline. The cover and synopsis suit the book perfectly.

The storyline was captivating and addictive from the first page until the last and I was completely invested in it. It was absolutely rammed full of lies, secrets, family, tension, drama, twists, suspense and everything you could ask for in a page turning psychological thriller. I just could not stop reading this absolutely addictive book from the first word to the last. Emily's extremely talented and evocative skills really brought the book to life and I was completely absorbed throughout. I lost count of the amount of times I promised myself one more chapter but that one finished in a way I just HAD to know what would happen next so I said just more and this went on and on until I ended up finishing it in one sitting!!! The location and atmosphere was absolutely perfect for this gripping thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. I absolutely love Emily's books and am guaranteed to be shocked every time I pick one up which is not an easy feat considering how many books I read a year so a HUGE CONGRATULATIONS Emily!!! One of the things I love about her books is that they can also be quite thought provoking and always end with MASSIVE BOMBSHELLS that I absolutely love and never do see coming. Emily's evocative writing drags you deep into the storyline from the first sentence to the very last and will keep you up until the very last word! THAT ladies and gentleman is a true sign of an absolute must read. I absolutely loved the ending which was definitely an unexpected twist which is just one of the reasons I love Emily's books, she manages to get me every single time!! I've said it before about Emily's books and I shall say it again!! I would absolutely LOVE to see this turned into a movie and would wait up all night to get tickets to watch it!!

I hope your busy writing your next book Emily as I just cannot wait to see what bombshell twist and explosive storyline you have up your sleeve for us next!!!!

Do not start this book until you have cleared your schedules as you will not be able to put it down!!

The characters were all realistic and strong and I was completely invested in them throughout. I love the fact that we got to see what was happening from the points of view from not just the girlfriend Gina but also from her boyfriend Owen's mother Marta WHITLOCK (!) and as with all her amazing books Emily weaves all of the chapters together with perfect timing until it all comes together with an explosive BANG!! It also explains absolutely everything which leaves no question unanswered at the end which is a pet hate of mine!! It also leaves you questioning what is really going on and gets you thinking more and more the deeper you delve into the storyline. Emily's multiple person perspective also really helps the reader understand the characters more making them more realistic to the reader. I was completely invested in all of the characters throughout and Emily's evocative descriptions really makes them jump out of the book and come to life in front of the readers eyes. All of the characters were multi layered with complex personalities which definitely made them all the more interesting to read about!!! Unfortunately, I really can not say anymore as I don't want to spoil it for future readers. I had no idea what to think of the different characters, what was really going on or where it was all leading which just goes to show what a talented author Emily is and I cannot wait to get hooked into her next psychological thriller which is guaranteed to be another page turner!! Regardless of what I thought about who, each character worked perfectly to make this page turning psychological thriller!!!

Congratulations Emily on yet ANOTHER huge success. This is the exact reason why you are in my favourite 5 authors list!! Here's to your next guaranteed success 🥂!!

Overall another absolutely unputdownable, action packed, intriguing psychological thriller that will keep you up at night on the edge of your seat with a pounding heart from onw of the best psychological thriller authors EVER!!

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**NetGalley Review: *Meet the Parents* by Emily Shiner**

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Emily Shiner delivers a gripping and suspenseful tale in *Meet the Parents*. The story pulls you in right from the start, with a plot full of twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end. The character development is strong, particularly with the protagonist, whose anxiety and fear are palpable as she navigates the tension between her and her partner’s parents.

Shiner skillfully builds an atmosphere of unease, making even the most mundane moments feel ominous. The pacing is well-done, with the tension gradually escalating to a thrilling climax.

The only reason I'm not giving it a full 5 stars is that I felt the resolution was slightly rushed, leaving a few loose ends that I wished had been tied up more neatly. However, this didn't detract too much from my overall enjoyment.

If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers with a domestic twist, *Meet the Parents* is definitely worth a read!

A quick read thriller that definitely throws some punches!!

Gina meets the perfect guy, Owen and now it's time she meets his parents. Although she's never met them, she knows all about them and their secrets. But Owen's parents also know who Gina really is. What was supposed to be a fun weekend with the parents turns into a mind game of everyone trying to get answers.

If you love Freida McFadden books, this is definitely a book for you.

Thanks you Netgalley, for this ARC! Now available!

This was exactly what ti needed to outline me out of my reading slump and omg I couldn't get through it fast enough! It's so well written, the story just flows perfectly and is so tense and twisty! It's amazingly plotted out to keep you guessing and I just wad absolutely hooked. Amazing!

Meet the Parents is a psychological thriller that’s tragic & with truly twisted characters carrying agendas for revenge. It’s hard to figure out all the agendas until the end when Emily Shiner brings everything to a gripping end.

Thank you, Emily Shiner, Bookouture, & netgalley for my early copy! All opinions are my own.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest psychological thriller by a favorite, Emily Shiner. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

Gina meets Owen, a successful doctor, at the hospital where she works. They soon fall in love and are anxious to make a life together. But first, she must meet his parents. Mother Marta lives and breathes for Owen and she's not happy that Gina has come into his life. Father Grant is creepy. Their home is beautiful, but set in a very remote location in the woods. And everyone has secrets.

Oh my goodness. Emily Shiner has done it again. She's crafted a twisty thriller where everyone has ulterior motives and secrets. Gina had a traumatic childhood and she is determined to get revenge. But Owen's parents are hiding their own motives for not wanting Gina in their family. These characters are mostly unlikeable, creepy, and the house and setting amplify that. I couldn't put this one down and the epilogue blew me away! Don't miss this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for approving me for an eARC of this title!
This book was a page turner from start to finish! Emily Shiner's way of writing captivated me throughout the whole book, with short chapters keeping momentum and unanswered questions leaving me guessing what will happen next. The dual timeline was done extremely well so as to not be confusing, and there was a perfect balance of being told information and having to figure out the rest for yourself. I would definitely recommend this title and will be reading future Emily Shiner works in the future! If you like Freida McFadden, this one is for you!

My Thoughts: I knew that I would love this book.. I am a huge fan of Emily Shiners books, she always leaves me wanting more and this one was no different!

This one is a constant guessing game that flips the story on its head multiple times.. you honestly never know who is the good guy and who is the bad guy. I know which way I wanted the story to go but was forever doubting myself.

Marta was a horrible woman, but you were left wondering wether she is jealous of Gina, scared of losing Owen or if she’s just overcompensating because she knows the secrets her husband is keeping and doesn’t want Gina to find out!

The kicker is we already know that Gina knows more about the family than they think, she has her own hidden agenda.. they’re linked to a tragic part of her past and she wants to make it right!

Emily really is a cut above in the psychological thriller genre, all of her books are impossible to put down and leave you with a pounding heart by the end.

I am excited to see what she comes up with next, though also a little bit scared.

🔥This one started with a bang - well a big fire but you know what I mean - and I was really interested in what was going to come next. I really enjoyed the last few chapters and the epilogue and the book has a really good (but somewhat open) ending. And a very very cringy “mother in law” - I’ve heard of overbearing MIL’s but she was something else 🫤

I say this every. single. time, but I think I just found my absolute favourite Emily Shiner thriller!

A good game of cat and mouse is a surefire way to garner an audience and Shiner certainly knows how...I was hooked right from the opening pages and literally didn't put my Kindle down until I'd flipped the last page. Now excuse me while I scrape my jaw up off the floor...that ending though! I had no idea, did you?

Unreliable narrators added to the uncertainty and doubts I had over who was sincere and who was an out, out liar. Throw in some twists, a few unexpected turns a pinch of drama and there you have it...

Reading Between the Wines book review #85/130 for 2024:
Book Tour!!
Rating: 3 🍷🍷🍷
Book: Meet the Parents
Author: Emily Shiner
Available now!! Released on August 28, 2024!

Sipping thoughts: I loved this cat and mouse game between Gina and Marta. This story is told by 2 different POVs. This book starts from the first word and didn’t let up until the end. Marta is one of those characters that you just want 2 minutes in a small room. I do believe the twist is guessable, but loved how it was revealed. I love the way Shriner writes and enjoyed other books by her.

Cheers and thank you to @Bookouture and @Netgalley for an advanced copy of @MeetTheParents.

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Thank you to Books on Tour and Bookouture for the ARC!

I have enjoyed every book I read by Emily Shiner, so I was eager to start “Meet the Parents”. This book was every bit as un-put-down able as all her others! From the very start of the book, it was obvious there was more here than meets the eye. Owen’s mother Marta seemd just a tad too overbearing in her parenting of her grown son. To an extent, I can relate to being a mama bear with your child, especially when there is a sudden engagement, but Marta took it to psycho level! Told from dual points of view, Gwen and Marta share their perspectives in a fast-paced game of cat-and-mouse, leaving me to wonder who was really the bad guy here. With its short chapters and quick pace, this psychological thriller had me on the edge of my seat. I have seen mixed reviews, but I truly didn’t predict the twist that was going to happen in this book. I can’t wait to see what Emily Shiner comes up with next!

”Meet the Parents” is out now! This review will be shared to my instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)