Thank you to the publisher for an early copy for review in exchange for an honest review.

Audio: the audio narration is fine, I would recommend if you decide to pick this up.

Review: This is a pretty standard thriller. As a debut novel, it was well done. There are things the author can work on in her next work, such as some believability around the story and narrative plot holes/ picking things for convenience. There was a strong academic setting which was good, especially for this time of year. I didn't love the main character, I found her slightly off putting at times. That being said, this was a crafty story and I think most will enjoy their time with.

This wasn’t really much of a mystery/thriller in my opinion. I think this would be better filed as Women’s Fiction. The storyline moved way too slow for me. The majority of the story deals with the FMC grieving for her recently deceased son. She was unlikeable and I couldn’t identify with her. As always, if the book’s description appeals to you, please give it a try.

2.75 🌟

This story revolves around Kate, who, after her son’s death, goes to his college campus to uncover what really happened to him. Was it really suicide, or was something else at play?

Her spiraling deeper and deeper into this obsession was the main thing that I found interesting and what really kept the tension up. Most of the other aspects of the story felt quite two-dimensional to me.

The secret society she came across was intriguing, and the bits and pieces of their initiation process were probably the highlight of my read.

Unfortunately, when I look at the big picture, this was a very mid-level psychological thriller. It didn’t grab me like other books in this genre usually do. The overall plot felt repetitive, made me lose interest often, and I kept reading in hopes of a big twist that never came. The book ended how I expected it would.

Thank you, NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing, for this audiobook ARC. All opinions are my own.

When her son Jake dies at his elite liberal arts college, grieving mother Kate refuses to accept the official explanation for his passing. Instead, she decides to discover the truth - whatever the cost or the means required to do so.

Kate's methods can be extreme and the book is uncomfortable at times, as we accompany her on a journey of grief that borders on madness.

The story describes a gothic setting with a distinctly dark academia vibe, and will appeal to those who enjoy the genre.

This was well written, complex and really emotional but unfortunately just not quite memorable enough. My ambivalence towards it may be due to the fact I wasn’t a huge fan of the narration so I may enjoy it more if I was to read it on hard copy. It was advertised as having dark academia themes and although there was a little of this I wish there had been so much more. This author clearly has a lot of talent and I would be keen to see what else they write in the future.

Title: The Wayside
Author: Caroline Wolff
Format: 🎧
Narrator: Lauren Fortgang
Publisher: Blackstone Publishing Audiobook
Genre: Mystery
Audiobook Release was Date: August 13, 2024
My Rating: 2.7 Stars
Pages 320


I love stories featuring an academic setting- especially one with an eerie Gothic vibe,.
In this story Kate Cleary is grieving the death of her son Jake who died at college under mysterious circumstances.
Kate refuses to believe it was suicide and sets out to investigate.

I feel terrible for anyone who has had to experience something as terrible as the death of child and I have no doubt I, too would search for the truth. However, I had a hard time liking Kate; - when she used Jake’s student ID to get into dorms, the library and into classes; I had concerns about the safety of the college.

I thought I was going to like this but unfortunately it didn’t work for me- it wasn’t terrible but was okay. I was ready to give up but I know there have been times the ending changed my mind so I hung in there.

I want to thank NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for this audiobook.
Publishing Release Date was August 13, 2024.

The Wayside, a gripping psychological thriller, follows Kate Cleary's journey to uncover the truth behind her son Jake's death at his elite liberal arts college. Refusing to believe it was suicide, Kate delves into Jake's final days, encountering unknown forces and a dangerous mystery that leads her closer to a terrifying truth Jake wanted hidden. The story combines elements of dark academia, domestic fiction, and modern suspense, exploring themes of devotion and the secrets we keep from loved ones.

In this NetGalley ARC, we are met with grieving mother Kate, whose 21-year-old son just committed what seemed to be suicide. When another student (who may or may not have a connection to Jake) dies, she finds herself digging up things about the college these students attended.

I loved the angle of a college secret society, I felt that it gave the story so much depth. I think the way Kate was grieving just showed how far a mother's love goes. She felt in her heart there was something more there. I found myself getting immersed every time I listened. The narrator has this aura about her that seems so in tune when narrating as Kate. The twists and turns this book takes you on are so worth the listen!

While I finished this read, it was very drawn out. I never really connected with the MC so I feel like I couldn't keep focused. This one wasn't for me, but I could imagine people enjoying!

When a mother cannot accept that her son's death was a suicide, she decides to go to his apartment and his college to understand what happened. She is tenacious and learns a whole lot more than the police did. She also learns more about herself and her ex-husband.

I thought this book was longer than it needed to be, but it was an interesting read. I listened to the audio version and the narrator was great.

I’m not entirely sure what I was supposed to get out of reading this. Quite dull for a thriller, even after adjusting my own expectations to lean more towards domestic drama. I’m often fine with a slow pace but there wasn’t ever anything that happened that made me actually interested in where this was going.

It relied on one of my least favorite things that a thriller or mystery can do, which is an immense amount of exposition in the third act. The final twist should not have to have entire chapters to explain why it makes sense.

I had higher expectations for this one but ultimately it was not for me.

I would not categorize this book as a thriller, but more of a domestic drama. I read a ton of books in the thriller genre and just found this book to be ok. I did not really like the characters or feel connected to them or the plot of the story. It had the potential to be a powerful story about a mother’s grief, but this aspect unfortunately fell flat.

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* This was a pleasant surprise! i wasn't sure what to expect about this book and it was a really great read for sure

When Kate's son Jake commits suicide she is so desperate to find out what could have driven him that she decides to dive deep down into his life. Going back to his college she manages to follow her son's footsteps and even lives parts of his campus-routine. This helps her to get to know the people her son surrounded himself with towards the end.
Well, this story did turn quite dark and I was totally engrossed in it. In my opinion the description as a combination of dark academia and domestic fiction hits home exactly!
The book is perfectly narrated by Lauren Fortgang
Thank you ##NetGalley #Blackstone Publishing for this audiobook

This one came THROUGH with the craziest plot twist ! 😧 I def did not see the ending coming. The story was great and the narration was perfect. 😊 recommend if you’re looking for your next thriller !

For a book touted as a psychological thriller, I wasn't very thrilled. This was an ok read, but I was expecting more from it. There was a secret twist but even still, I wasn't blown away.

This will also be a very tough read for any parent who has ever lost a child and I would tell them to steer clear of this one.

I’m not sure where to begin.

I had some high hopes, I really wanted to love it. The synopsis dragged me in but I found myself bored and not wanting to continue the book. I feel like it was seriously lacking in suspense. As a mother, I felt bad for Kate, and I wanted her to find justice for her son, Jake. But I felt that ever character she met was dull, lacking development. I will however say that it all came together, rather quickly in the end, but did come together. I don’t know, I’ve got adhd and if I had physically read this instead of listening, I probably would have DNF’d this book. It just didn’t have that “suck me in” moment.

But, that’s just me! This book is for someone, just not me. Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the ARC audiobook of The Wayside.

TW: Self Harm.This was a hard read. Kate Cleary’s son takes his own life and Kate travels to his college town and takes residence in his apartment to sit in her grief and get to the truth of what really happened. This book gives you lots of dark academia vibes and even though I could see the ending as it unfolded, it was chaotic and twisty. I was left though wanting one final twist.

i enjoyed the first half of the book. it pulled at my heart strings but then it got messy. there really wasn't any OMG revelation like I was hoping. It wasn't bad....I'd read more by Wolf though.

I really wanted to like this book, it sounded intriguing, but the glacially slow pace and the author’s tendency to throw in words that are pedantic and many times not cohesive. I didn’t finish, I got to 85% and honestly didn’t care what the big reveal was

I thought I would like this one but I just didn't. It was a little dull, it fell flat. I felt the relationships were weird and didn't really have a place there. It was really slow and lacked to keep my attention.