Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this before its publication.

Nothing beats a good thriller and I enjoyed Meet the Parents. The plot hooks you in right from the beginning and you immediately want to find out more and see where it goes. I think the fact the plot focused on the 4 main characters really helped, as we got to really experience their intensity and see what role each of them will play in the story. We didn't have to remember too much or connect too many dots to keep the story interesting and easy to follow.

One thing I will say is that I found the ending a little underwhelming and bizarre but that wouldn't stop me from recommending the book. If you're looking for a smart and intense thriller, then this is definitelt worth adding to the list. I finished it in less than 2 days, they're the best kinds of books!

The book cover caught my attention straight away and once I had read the book description I knew I had to read it.
Fresh and dynamic... Fast-paced and spellbinding...a book you will have a hard time putting down.

This was an electrifying ride of deception, danger and mystique. The crisply written chapters made this book an easy read as I flew through the pages at warp speed. This was one of those books that I was not going to be satisfied until I finished it.

I felt like I was watching two boxers in a ring getting ready to fight. I was not really certain who would get the TKO, but I knew there was going to be bloodshed. The players in this game were all deceitful. All the red flags were flying. It was going to be a battle of wills.

This was a top notch psychological thriller that will play with your mind while taking you on a wild ride. Ratcheted tension makes this book unputdownable. I am still shaking my head.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you Bookouture & Emily Shiner for this read!

I was so excited to see one of my new FAV authors was releasing a new book, and this book didn't disappoint! Emily Shiner has quickly landed her way into my must-read and auto rec author lists.

This book was dark, it was twisted and as I read it, I just knew that there would be some shocking moments ahead. The suspense builds to some literal jaw dropping moments!

I love the way Shiner made this feel like a claustrophobic, cat and mouse game. You are thrown back and fourth between multiple POVs and will be hooked trying to find out how this will end.

Some horrible, well written characters, some humorous moments and overall a dark thrilling read!

Highly recommend this one!

Emily Shiner (a favorite author) returns following Three Drowned Girls and One Liar Left with her latest twisty domestic suspense thriller, MEET THE PARENTS—A young woman meets the parents of her soon-to-be husband. As the story unfolds, you'll be captivated by each character's sinister and unpredictable nature, keeping you engaged until the end.

Obsession. Revenge. Karma. Secrets. Murder. Collateral Damage. Family, and so much more.

About...
The author cleverly sets the stage, starting with the prologue. A fire. Who will be left alive? What buried secrets of the past rise to the surface?

Meet the Whitlock family. Marta is a homemaker and the wife of Grant Whitlock (he formerly traveled for business, was a womanizer, and is now retired), and she is a very possessive mother of Owen, her son (age 41). They live in a McMansion (mini-Mansion) in the secluded woods.

Owen is a successful doctor and is dating Gina. He is planning on proposing and wants her to meet his parents. He is smart, sexy, rich, and driven.

Gina has had a traumatic past. What is her hidden agenda?

Gina soon finds Marta is a nightmare.
Whose side will Owen take?
What happened to Gina in the past?
Marta and Grant have a plan.

Who is the serial killer? This question will keep you on the edge of your seat as the plot unfolds, revealing unexpected connections and shocking revelations.

Trust no one!
Let the games begin...

My Thoughts...
Intense, creepy, diabolically twisted, hilarious, and wildly entertaining! A compulsively readable and deeply satisfying fun psychological suspense!

MEET THE PARENTS is a wild rollercoaster ride with a jaw-dropping twist Epilogue! You have no clue where the author is headed, but you will want to enjoy the devious, chilling journey of obsession, revenge, and justice. It's a thrilling tale of family dysfunction!

MEET THE PARENTS has a locked-room thriller vibe, and the dirty secrets, betrayal, and deceit will be unraveled when meeting the parents. Shiner's portrayal of Gina and Marta is fabulously compelling and darkly hilarious. (dark humor is key to a great psychological thriller, in my opinion)

How do each of the characters and their past connect? Do Marta and Grant know more about Gina than they are letting on?

Who's Zoomin' Who?

The story is skillfully told from the perspectives of Gina (then and now) and Marta, adding a unique and engaging narrative structure that keeps the reader guessing.

Marta, in particular, is a character to behold. Shiner's dark humor and snark are at their best, creating a psychological thriller filled with unexpected twists and turns.

The bonds between mothers and sons should never be broken (Marta takes it to the extreme). But you never know how far someone will go to keep a family together! A huge fan, as always, I enjoyed the author's note and her creative twisted stories.

Recs...
This book is a must-read for those who enjoy the works of the author, Kaira Rouda, Freida McFadden, Jenova Rose, BA Paris, and Shari Lapena.

Blog Tour Host...
Join me on pub day Aug 28th for Booktour Books On Tour —Blog Tour Stop. Thriller lovers, get this one on your list!

Thanks to Bookouture for a gifted digital review copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Aug 28, 2024
Aug 2024 Must-Read Books
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4.5 stars rounded up. This was a twisty story with a big surprise ending. The characters were well thought out. None of them were really likeable. The story moved along at a brisk pace. I recommend it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the author and publisher for a free digital ARC of this book. This is my honest and unsolicited review.

I really enjoyed #MeetTheParents. I couldn’t put this fast paced, gripping and suspenseful book down. I was hooked right from the start. Full of betrayal, blackmail, deception, family drama, murder, hidden secrets and lies.
I loved the authors writing style. It’s well written with an interesting storyline, good characters, plenty of twists and an ending you don’t see coming. Just brilliant. The short chapters alternating between now and then and dual POV’s of Marta and Gina add depth and complexity to the story and kept me turning the pages as the tension escalates. I liked how the characters and their emotions felt so real.
Overall, an entertaining unputdownable psychological thriller. Definitely recommend if you enjoy reading this genre.
With thanks to #NetGallery @bookouture for an arc of #MeetTheParents in exchange for a honest review.
I share my review on Goodreads, Amazon and Instagram @allthingsbookswithclaire
Book publishes 28 August 2024.

Meet the Parents by Emily Shiner will have you on the edge of your seat.
This book was so good that I could not put it down! I thought the story was fabulous, filled with unexpected twists and turns. The characters were great and I loved getting to know them.

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.0

I absolutely loved this book, I had no idea where the story was going to go and flew through the book.

Gina was a little girl who watched her aunt be murdered right in front of her. She spends years and years trying to figure out how to get revenge for her aunt. It starts with a trip to her boyfriend’s Owen's parents… and from there… it all changes. Not quite fast paced, but not slow either. An absolutely great read! Thanks to netgalley to allow me to review this book.

Thank you Bookouture for a copy on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
An astute and gripping psychological thriller.
Emily has authored a clever, pleasing and compelling story.
Gina and Owen are happily together.
Before they become engaged, Owen wants Gina to meet his parents.
Grant and Marta are the perfect hosts with secrets galore.
They know more than they are letting on.
Marta does not like Gina and continues to make her uncomfortable.
But Gina has her own agenda and with vengeance in the front of the line only one of the women will have her victory.
Meet The Parents is mysterious, suspenseful and very hooking.
An exciting plot, interesting characters, a nice little twist and an unexpected ending.
Need to read more from Emily and will remedy that soon.
Unravel the secrets and enjoy the wild ride…..

As always with Emily Shiner books I was immediately gripped and could not put it down. This book was so tense and twisty.

Wow! This physiological thriller kept me on the edge of my seat from cover to cover. The book has 2 POVs, Gina and Martha (Gina’s boyfriends mother). It was very easy to flip between characters and their mindset. Gina was a witness to a crime many years ago and is out for revenge. The plot twist at the end had my jaw on the floor.

Thank you to NetGalley and Emily Shiners’ team for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC and give my honest review. I will be looking for more of Emily’s work.

Meet the Parents by Emily Shiner is a very highly recommended, un-put-downable fast-paced psychological thriller.

Owen, 41, is bringing home his girlfriend Gina, 28, to meet his parents, Grant and Marta Whitlock. Their cabin in the woods is actually a mansion on a sprawling estate. Marta immediately is hostile to Gina and Grant has wandering eyes. None of this really matters because they all privately know something about who the other person really is and what they are capable of doing behind their facade. The extent of what they'll do and what they know will be determined. Readers will know from the start only two people are going to survive, but which two is in question.

Meet the Parents is really a compelling, delicious cat-and-mouse page-turner that held my complete attention from start to finish. The narrative follows the present day get together, which is told through the alternating voice of Gina or Marta. Gina's past trauma is told through separate chapters set in the past when she was 8 years-old. The flashback chapters explain Gina's past trauma. The characters of Gina and Marta receive the most development.

This is a twisty psychological thriller right up to the end. The final denouement went a bit over-the-top, but the experience getting there was completely entertaining. Thanks to Bookouture for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The review will be published on Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a fast paced thriller!! Gina was the right amount of devious. The mom kinda weirded me out a little with her obsession of Owen. I thought the ending was ok but then bam twist.

I definitely recommend this book if you're looking for a fast paced thriller.

After experincing a horrific childhood trauma Gina's life is changed forever, and now she is obsessed of making sure she gets her revenge. Owen is the perfect man, he's a doctor, he's handsome, he's sweet.

Owen and Gina havnt been dating long when Owen decides he wants her to meet his parents. Being nervous by agreeing to go with him for the weekend to meet them and being excited to find out a dark truth that has haunted her for over 20 years.
I loved how this book kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. It was very hard to put down and the twist at the end literally had my jaw on the ground! Definitely put this on your to be read list when it comes out 08/27/2024!

Thank you Bookouture publishing, Author Emily Shiner and Netgalley for the early copy of this book!

I got an ARC from NetGalley.

The excitement this book provided was outstanding! The ending caught me entirely off guard. When you think it's wrapping up, the surprise twist at the end adds the perfect touch. An excellent read!

I received an ARC from NetGalley

The roller coaster ride this book took me on was a complete thrill! I was not expecting the ending - complete shock! Just when you thought it was over, the curve ball at the end is the icing on the cake. It was a great read

Wooow this one was so good!! I was hooked from the beginning and couldn't stop reading. The writing style is so fast paced that you can't stop reading and you want to know more! I really had a great time reading this book and can't wait to read more books by this author.

Thanks you NetGalley and Bookouture for this arc.

"Meet the Parents" by Emily Shiner is a masterclass in psychological suspense that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. With expertly crafted characters and a plot full of dark secrets and chilling twists, this book is impossible to put down. The tension between Gina and Owen's overbearing mother, Marta, is palpable, and the stakes grow higher with every page. Who knows what? How much do they know?

Shiner's ability to build suspense and deliver shocking revelations makes this a must-read for fans of thrillers. By the time the final twist was revealed, I was left breathless. Highly recommended!

Thank you Emily Shiner, Bookoture, and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

The plot centers on a seemingly typical scenario—a girlfriend meeting her boyfriend's parents—but with a twist: the family is deeply entwined with Gina's tragic past. This setup paves the way for a story filled with murder, deception, and conspiracy.

The book's creativity and pacing are standout features; the pages seemed to turn themselves as the narrative unfolded more complexities. Just when you think the drama has concluded, the story continues to deliver more surprises. Overall, this was a fantastic read, marked by excellent storytelling and well-crafted character development. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for an engaging and surprising thriller.