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.

✨3 stars✨

This was an extremely fast-paced book and I found myself unable to put it down once I started! I literally read it in one sitting!

I would recommend this book to anyone who’s looking for a quick short thriller. However, I was personally just expecting a bit more from the plot twists as the reveals were a bit anti-climatic, in my opinion. Also, the Mum, Marta, was a complete stereotypical “boy mum” which made me feel uncomfortable as some of her thoughts and dialogue was downright creepy!

I received an ARC from the publishers via NetGalley. Thank you!

First, I want to thank Emily Shiner, Bookouture, and NetGalley for providing me with this book so I can bring you this review.

Ohh it has been a hott minute since I have been able to sync my eyes into a Emily Shiner book!! Ohh let me tell you Meet The Parents was definitely worth the wait!! Emily casted this book with characters with deep dark secrets that made this story ever so twisted. If you are a fan of Emily Shiner like I am, this is a must read!

Emily’s prologue started out intense, detailed, action packed, and attention grabbing. It left you with so many questions that you just had to keep reading on just to find out the answers.

My heart instantly ached for Gina as a young girl witnessed the death of her Aunt. Just as we find out this tragic news in the story Emily flashes back to the night in question and we get to be a fly on the wall and witness it happen. Gina knows who did this to her Aunt….

Ohh how I didn’t care for Marta!! She was Owen’s mother and despised Gina! She would do anything to tear them apart! She totally got under my skin!!

4⭐️ Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of Meet The Parents.

Gina and Owen have been dating for seven weeks when he decides to bring her home to meet his parents Grant and Marta. Upon arriving at a very remote mansion in the woods Gina knows that she has to find the proof that she has been looking for to prove that Owen’s parents have a sinister past. All the while Owen’s parents plan to follow through on their plan of “taking care” of Gina once and for all. But whose plan will prevail?

This book had me hooked from the first page up until the very last page. I really enjoyed the writing style and the dual points of view. I have to say I did not see the ending coming at all!

📖📖 Book Review 📖📖 Would you still believe your relationship was meant to be if a weekend meeting the parents went up in flames? There are a lot of secrets hiding under the surface as Gina prepares to meet Owen’s parents but the extent of what lies underneath is completely unknown. Emily Shiner delivers a thrilling book that certainly gives more questions than answers as the layers unfold. The characters may be a little too well written because I had no idea who to trust but it made the book all the more enjoyable! Meet the Parents is beautifully written and builds in a wonderfully suspenseful arc!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Review will be up on instagram next week and on Amazon on pub date!

Absolutely loved this book! It had me hooked from the first chapter and with all the twists and turns it had ms wondering what could have happened next?!

I honestly can't wait to read more from the author in any future books.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Emily Shiner's "Meet The Parents" is a gripping murder mystery that keeps readers on their toes. The story follows Gina and Owen as they embark on a week-long stay at Owen's parents' house, but beneath the surface of this seemingly ordinary visit lies a sinister plot of revenge.

Shiner expertly builds tension throughout the narrative, creating an atmosphere of unease that permeates every interaction. The characters are well-developed, with Gina's complex motivations driving the plot forward in unexpected ways. The author's ability to blend the mundane aspects of family visits with the underlying current of danger is commendable.

While the premise is intriguing and the pacing generally good, there are moments where the plot feels slightly predictable. Some readers might find certain twists telegraphed too early, which can dampen the overall suspense.

Despite these minor drawbacks, "Meet The Parents" is an entertaining read that will appeal to fans of domestic thrillers. Shiner's writing style is engaging, and her exploration of family dynamics adds depth to the central mystery.

In conclusion, while not perfect, "Meet The Parents" is a solid entry in the murder mystery genre, offering enough intrigue and character development to keep readers invested until the final page.

I read this a bit ago and forgot to write the review. I loved it! I love this author. She really nailed the whole "boy mom" mindset here. It fun to guess the characters intentions.
I had a blast as always. I can't wait for the next one.

This book had me hooked from the start! Never knowing what was going to happen really pulled me in! The way the chapters ended with leaving you on a cliff was just so good! Amazing book! The back and forth narration really had me guessing good vs evil👏🏻! Great ending! Don’t skip it! Thank you net galley for this arc!

WHATTTTTTT did I just read?! This is my first Emily Shriner book and it won’t be my last. I was telling the whole time, put to me the book down, picking it back up. I couldn’t handle knowing more but I needed to know!!! Def recommend.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
4.5/5 (rounded down)!!

SYNOPSIS: “We’re so excited to have you in our home.” My boyfriend’s mother smiles at me a little too wide. His father’s eyes re hard at the edges. It’s like they’re hiding something. But of course, I already know that…

The mother: Stay-at-home mother Marta lives in her successful husband’s shadow, overlooked by him ever since her darling son Owen went to medical school. She’s not about to lose him to Gina… Marta will play nice, get Gina to trust her. And then she has a plan of her own.

The son: Owen is already certain he wants to marry the perfect Gina. Sure, his mom can be overprotective. But Owen knows why. He knows what she’s hiding.

The girlfriend: Ever since purposefully running into Dr. Owen Whitlock at the hospital, Gina has been playing the doting girlfriend. She didn’t mean to fall for his charm for real… now it’s finally time to meet his parents. Gina already knows all about the terrible secrets this family is covering up. And she’ll do anything to make sure they never find out who she really is.
By the end of the weekend, the Whitlock’s beautiful house will have burned to the ground. And someone won’t make it out alive…

MY REVIEW: I absolutely LOVED Meet the Parents by Emily Shiner… from prologue to explosive epilogue, truly all of the elements for a twisty thriller! The fast-paced plot is exceptionally crafted with so many psychological twists along the way. Not to mention the EPIC twist of an ending, no lie my jaw dropped to the floor!

We get the alternating perspective of Gina, Owen’s girlfriend, and Marta, the doting mother… need I say more? The webs Gina weaves throughout her visit to the Whitlock’s mini mansion had me cringing in fear and laughing along with her commentary. All characters were deliciously dark and intriguing; the secrets and lies kept by each of the characters are intense. I also love how the past meets the present here!

dual pov, timeline hops, murder, blackmail, family secrets + lies, deception, twists, family drama

I loved the setup for this story and found the characters fascinating, the plot intriguing. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough and didn't see the twists coming. I've found a great new author!

SUPER TWISTY! I liked it. I remember reading the blurb but by the time I got to reading, I couldn't recall what it was about. So glad I didn't remember because this had me so entertained! If you haven't read the blurb, don't! I felt like the twists were even 'twistier'.

I hope they decide to convert it into an audiobook because I think it would do so well!

Gina has been dating Owen for less than two months but he decides it's time to introduce her as his future wife to his parents. Gina is delighted to be invited to meet his parents as she knows a secret about them involving an event 20 years ago which had a huge impact on her. However it seems that the parents, Grant and Marta, know exactly who she is and it was Grant who instigated Owen's meeting Gina. So begins a cat and mouse game, but who is the cat and who is the mouse?
The story is told from the viewpoints of Gina and Marta. I found Gina to be very naive bordering on stupid. . She's immediately snooping in every room in the house even with the other occupants within earshot, she lets herself become alone with Grant who she knows means her harm. Marta, on the other hand, is very unlikeable. She is obsessed with her son and treats him as if he's 5 and not 41 and a doctor. In fact, her obsession with Owen came across as practically incestuous. Grant is also a very unsavoury character constant eyeing Gina up and down making his intentions towards her very clear. There was a lot of repetition in the book and disbelief had to be suspended quite a lot. An unexpected ending though I did begin to suspect who the real culprit was..
Thanks to the NetGalley for the opportunity of reading this book.,

I enjoy psychological thrillers and read through them pretty quickly. I loved this book, literally couldn’t put it down, and read it in one day. I suspected some things, but loved trying to put all the pieces together and predict what was to come!

An excellent thriller that will be sure to reel in even the most skeptical of readers. This book has an excellent plot/storyline, full of embedded twists and excitement. If you are looking for a unique, brief thriller to add to your collection then I highly encourage you to check this one out!

Did I enjoy the book?
Yes, I was hooked from the beginning. The plot is not just good; it's gripping. If you've ever experienced or witnessed the complexities of in-law relationships, this book will keep you turning the pages and connected.

The plot was good; however, the ending had so many holes that I felt I only needed a friend to discuss it. Still, I would recommend the book. It was a fast read for me. It took me some time to organize my thoughts, but I did enjoy the reading journey. The ending is not the only part with a twist; therefore, the book keeps you on the edge of your seat!

Also, I enjoyed that this story has four active characters: Owen (the boyfriend), Marta (Owen's mom), Grant (Owen's dad), and Gina (the girlfriend). The other four characters are never active in conversation, so it's really easy to follow the narrative and plot.

I absolutely binged this book and finished it in just one sitting! I could not put it down! It is the definition of thrilling! I was completely hooked from the very beginning and I would highly recommend it! My first from this author but certainly not my last! Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my ARC

owen decides its ffinally time to introduce gina to his parents, grant and marta are the parents,he know his mother will be the hardest to impress. Owen is there only child and is his mothersis quite obsessed with him.and his mother sets out a plan to get rid of gina. great twist and turns .

This novel was very predictable and there was so much repetition. The prologue added absolutely zero value to the book.