The story flowed well and the characters were well developed. I recommend this book and look forward to more from this author.


****Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review****

Dark and absolutely heart-wrenching. This one is worth the read in all the right ways. I felt as if I were on the journey with them and could barely wait to see what secret would be uncovered next.

The Wayside is a book about Kate Cleary, a mother on a mission to find out what really happened to her son, Jake. When Kate’s son dies at school, it is ruled suicide, Kate moves into her son’s college apartment to try and put together the last days of her sons life to find the truth and uncovers more secrets than she was expecting. I really enjoyed this book in audiobook form, as well as the narrator voice. This book may contain triggers for some readers.

Caroline Wolff's debut novel, The Wayside, is a gripping psychological thriller that delves into the depths of grief and the secrets that can tear families apart. The story follows Kate Cleary, a grieving mother whose son, Jake, mysteriously dies at his prestigious liberal arts college. Refusing to believe it was suicide, Kate embarks on a relentless pursuit of the truth, uncovering a hidden world of secrets and darkness lurking beneath the idyllic facade of the campus.

A taut, fast-paced psychological domestic thriller in which a grieving mother is determined to prove her son didn't commit suicide while attending his prestigious liberal arts college. Written by a new to me author and great on audio this is perfect for fans of authors like Shari Lapena. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

Kate Cleary’s son Jake was away at college when the unthinkable happened. Kate tries to uncover the truth to find out what exactly happened to Jake. Is it as the police say? As Kate immerses herself in Jake’s day to day life, she finds some unexplainable clues, speaks to people Jake had connections to; in turn, discovering something Jake could have been a part of during his time away. Then, the biggest secret of all is overturned, which affects Kate and knocks the air right from her.

I enjoyed the setting of this dark novel, as well as the vivid descriptions Caroline Wolff creates.

Thank you to Blackstone Publishing Audio Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this novel. It is on the shelves now! Go get yourself a copy for your fall reading list! 3 1/2 stars
#carolinewolff #netgalley #blackstonepublishingaudiobooks #fallreads #thewayside

This psychological thriller with a hint of dark academia fell short for me. I liked it, but I did not love it. I do not know that I would have finished had it not been for the audiobook. It just felt a little drawn out to me, but this is definitely the first thing I have ever read like this, so it may just not be for me. The ending made the book though!

Thank you Net Galley for my ALC!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC in audiobook format.

The Wayside by Caroline Wolff, narrated by Lauren Fortgang, is a haunting and intricately woven psychological thriller that delves into the depths of grief, obsession, and the dark secrets hidden within an elite liberal arts college.

The story follows Kate Cleary, a mother who refuses to accept the official explanation of her son Jake’s death. Found dead beneath a cliff at his prestigious college, Jake’s death is ruled a suicide, but Kate is convinced something more sinister is at play. Determined to uncover the truth, she retraces Jake’s final days, descending into a spiral of obsession that leads her into a dangerous and mysterious world.

Lauren Fortgang’s narration is a positive addition to this audiobook. Her expressive and nuanced performance brings the characters to life, capturing the emotional intensity of Kate’s journey and the eerie atmosphere of the college. Fortgang’s ability to convey the suspense and tension in the story enhances the listening experience, making it both immersive and gripping.

Wolff’s writing is sharp and evocative, blending elements of dark academia with domestic fiction. The plot is meticulously crafted, with twists and turns that keep the listener guessing. The exploration of themes such as motherhood, mental health, and the lengths one will go to uncover the truth adds depth and complexity to the narrative.

Kate is portrayed as a deeply flawed yet relatable protagonist, driven by guilt and a desperate need for answers. Her interactions with other characters, including a mysterious woman who may hold the key to Jake’s death, are fraught with tension and intrigue. The supporting characters are equally well-developed, each adding their own layer to the unfolding mystery.

The Wayside is a must-listen for fans of psychological thrillers and dark academia. Caroline Wolff’s compelling storytelling, combined with Lauren Fortgang’s captivating narration, makes this audiobook a standout in its genre.

WOW I did not expect that ending whatsoever! This book had me hooked from the get go. There were some things I found a bit strange but I spose it went right along with the story of figuring out why Jake committed suicide. Great narration!

4 Stars!

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced reader copy!

Publish date: 08/13/2024

A woman investigates her son’s death and finds out way more than she bargained for. The story was pretty good, definitely gave some Old Boy vibes towards the end but with its own twist. I had trouble feeling anything for any of the characters besides a deep hatred for John. The narrator did a good job I just wasn’t gripped.

With “The Wayside” Caroline Wolff has created a dark academia thriller that captivates with its literary style of writing, the wonderfully portrayed inner workings of the main character, and the slow unfolding of a dark yet inevitable truth that doesn’t seem far from reality.

This story works a lot with the atmosphere it builds and Lauren Fortgang’s narration added a lot to it, making one feel eerily connected with the main character Kate.

It was a gripping story and a perfect read for the fall season.

For the most part, I enjoyed this book. Sometimes there was a lot going on, and it got confusing when it went back-and-forth between the past and the present, because it didn’t specify that at the beginning of the chapter. The ending left me with a few unanswered questions.

I enjoyed this book for the most part. However, it felt like something I had read or seen before. As the story progressed, I knew I had already read it. This book is too similar to a movie I have seen in the past.

The Wayside - Caroline Wolff

A slow burn academia read with some psychological thrill.

Kate is struggling with the suicide of her son so she steps into his life at his college so she can figure out why it happened but the more she learns, the more she understands she didn’t know her son like she thought she did.

It was super slow. I am not a fan of thrillers that move at a snail's pace. It was a lot of Kate’s grief driving the book and the things she does while trying to come to terms with her son’s death. I don’t think this book was bad, I think it is mis-genred. Had it been geared as a literary fiction because it was pretty much character driven and that I could have reconciled myself with. The second you say, thriller, I am expecting a moderate pace.

The storyline was great and had it been faster and less about Kate and more about the actual timeline of her son… I would have been singing its praises. It missed its mark and the ending was bizarre.

3.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of the audiobook.

The narrator, Lauren Fortgang, did a great job with this book. I would definitely look for her work again.

The book was maybe a bit too scattered. I think it would have been better to cut the topics by half and take more time to create the characters. As it was, things about the characters seemed to be tossed in at convenient times to better fit the way the author wanted the story to move along.

Billed as dark academia, this psychological thriller about a mother who lurks on her late son's college campus to find the truth about what happened to him was a uniquely chilling read/listen. I finished it in a day because it was just that compelling for me.

If you are anything like me, you will want to throw your earbuds across the room at the end because of one particular character's words and actions 😭 the narration was ok, nothing spectacular.

Content warning: su!c!de

Very much enjoyed this! A good blend of two trendy genres of the moment - dark academia, and twisty thriller. I raced to the end!

This book was ok, but it was missing a lot of gusto. I liked it enough to keep reading and finish it, but it just fell flat a lot of the time. Weird ending..

I loved this exciting psychological thriller. It touches on subjects such as grief, college society and becoming an adult.
Kate is a mom who has lost her son, but there's some mystery that is around her sons death. She wants to find out the real truth about what happened. While doing so she finds out about college secret societies, and the struggles her son was experiencing.
I was hooked from the very first page, it's a unputdownable story, that has you gripped until the last page. The characters where interesting. I felt like I was experiencing the grief right along with Kate. The story had so many layers to peel back that I kept being shocked at what was going on.
If you love thrillers, mystery's, dark academia vibes then you should definitely read this one.
ALC received from Netgalley!

Thanks to NetGalley for an audiobook ARC. I think this had potential and could’ve maybe been really good, but it missed the mark on a few things. I feel like the author tried to cram too many things that are typical of this type of novel into one story.