This novel was a very poignant portrayal of love and forgiveness after a shocking murder that destroys family but brings the reader insight about if we are more than the worst things we have other done. Told in past and present perspectives, spanning decades, we learn of familial loyalty, redemption, and forgiveness.

Terese Plummer was a wonderful choice for narrator of this very depth-filled novel.

Looking for a book to suggest to your book club? This.is.it!👏

The book begins with a devastating and unimaginable tragedy—one sibling fatally shoots another, then calls 911 to confess. This shocking act sets the stage for a powerful family drama filled with grief, trauma, and a deep search for meaning and justice.

What follows is an exploration of emotional complexity and moral ambiguity. Koval doesn’t simply tell a story about crime and punishment—she digs into the intricacies of forgiveness and human frailty. Throughout the book, she challenges us to question the concept of mercy: can we truly forgive actions that seem unforgivable? How do we, as individuals and as a society, navigate the line between judgment and compassion? Are people more than their mistakes? Koval raises these kinds of questions in a raw and unflinching way.

As I read, I reflected deeply on these themes, which is one of the book’s greatest strengths. Koval presents a multifaceted look at forgiveness—acknowledging that it’s not always a clear or attainable goal for everyone. The journey to forgiveness is filled with setbacks, missteps, and painful revelations. Some characters may never find it, making it all the more poignant and realistic.

I paired both the audio and the physical book. I loved Thérèse Plummer’s narration. She seamlessly handled the large cast of characters and created the right amount of tension and mystery, so I listened to most of the story. Although, you can't go wrong with either format.

This book was not for me. It felt redundant and the author often fell back upon stereotypes to develop characters. However, I do think this story might resonate with people and as a book seller I think this would be a good recommendation for some customers.

Angie and David have experience a horror no parents wants to occur - their teenage son is murdered in their home. What makes this even more torturous is that their daughter Nora is arrested for killing him. Desperate to help their daughter, David asks the local lawyer, Martine for help. Unfortunately the case is too complex and not her expertise so she enlists the help of her son, NYC lawyer Julian. Adding to the layers of complexity, Julian and Angie were in a serious relationship for much of their teens and young adulthood and experienced their own trauma when Angie's sister died in front of them. All of the interpersonal issues are present while Angie and David just want to learn the truth and protect their daughter.

This was a complicated slow burn book that I really enjoyed. I listened and read this one along and I thought that the narrator hit just the right tone for this novel. This story touches on grief, forgiveness, and the dynamics of familial relationships and digs deep into these themes with each character. I thought this was going to be a mystery (because the question of why Nora kills her brother runs throughout the book), but it was really a character driven story. While the ending led to a more real life resolution - I appreciated that the story doesn't get wrapped up neatly like many novels (after I read it and thought back on it, not necessarily while I was reading it).

Thank you to MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for the ARC to review

The Celadon read-along had me dying to read this book. I was so excited to be able to read it early and see what all the hype was about. I tandem read this book with the audiobook.

Penitence is a multilayered story about two families, a past tragedy, a present day tragedy, and the aftermath of both of these events. This story addresses guilt, betrayal, who we are after we do bad things, and forgiveness. It’s about the price we pay for being human.

I’ve seen a lot of reviews and people hated Angie. I do not share that opinion at all. Angie was a flawed human like everyone else.

You’ll read this wanting answers to “why” and “what happened next” and this was not a story that delivers answers. You have to be okay to be left wondering.

It’s important to go into this book knowing it’s not a thriller and more of a contemporary fiction novel.

The pacing was on the slower side which was hard for me so having the audio to listen to alongside reading it helped a lot. The narrator was Therese Plummer and I loved how she told the story.

Also, any time I put a book down after I’m finished and I feel like I’ve been given life advice or a lesson, it’s a good thing. The book made me think about who I am as a mother and I’m all about self-reflection so I loved this.

Thank you so much to celadon for my ARC and ALC!

I binged Penitence (mostly audio, and some reading my physical copy) over the Christmas break, but I held off of posting in anticipation of joining a zoom call with the author (tonight!), and discussing the book further with reading buddies joining me in this Celadon Read Together Initiative. I could not put the book down and I thought it was exceptional.

The content is heavy, as it’s about a horrific murder within a family, and to complicate things further, the lawyer who representing the case happens to have a complicated history himself with the family. Their paths are intertwined as we move from present day to the past and uncover secrets as human flaws are revealed.
I absolutely love it when books have big underlying themes and FORGIVENESS and it’s layers and complexities is the big overarching one, which gave me much to think about while reading, as well as I was finished. The author has pointed out that themes she wanted to explore also include mercy, judgement, truth and memory, and the balance between navigating these things in relationships, as well how the justice system works deals with it. This was such an emotional read, and I found myself tearing up at more than one spot. We don’t get answers to everything, which I think was purposeful and fit with the theme of the book.

Koval’s writing has been compared to Ann Patchett and Celeste Ng, and I really did feel the Ng comparison. I thought this debut novel was excellent, and I will definitely read more from her in the future. And Therese Plummer’s narration was perfect- it was fantastic on audio. Definitely recommend!

A shocking murder forces Angie and David Sheehan to seek legal help, bringing Angie face-to-face with her former love, Julian, now a defense attorney. As the investigation unfolds, long-buried secrets and a tragic event from their past come to light, forcing Angie and Julian to face not only the truth about the crime but also unresolved feelings they thought were left behind. The story alternates between the present and the past, slowly revealing the pieces of their shared history.

Kristin Koval’s Penitence is an emotional and thought-provoking debut about love, guilt, and healing. The writing is great, and I really liked the dialogues—they felt natural and real. The mix of legal drama and family secrets kept me engaged, though the pace is on the slower side. I don’t like to give spoilers, but I will say that I would have loved to learn more about Nora, and I felt like I was missing some things at the end.

I was part of the Celadon Read Along and actually finished earlier than expected because I couldn’t stop reading! I alternated between the physical copy and the audiobook, beautifully narrated by Thérèse Plummer. Thank you, Celadon Books and Macmillan Audio, for the gifted copies!

This story was a double family drama mixed with a murder, a death of a child and an imprisonment of a child. I listened to this audiobook in 2 days. I could not put it down. It was really well done. Even though the story was told in multiple perspectives and multiple timelines, it was easy to follow. This was a tragic story with themes of redemption and forgiveness. This was a heartbreaking story that after tragedy occurs, there is always someone who is left to pick up the pieces. I thought I was going to know the ending and there was a piece that was never revealed which left me hanging.

This was a great book, though I was able to guess a twist pretty early on. I enjoyed the legal aspect of the book but also the human emotion that went with all of the situations.

When I first started Penitence by Kristin Koval, never did I think that it would become my new favourite novel, but here we are.

Similar to how Backman set the scene in Beartown, Koval purposefully uses the prologue to hint at the characters and the unfolding drama within this sleepy Colorado town. As the plot and characters began to develop, my heart broke for those careless split-second decisions that forever changed the course of history for these individuals.

The truth is that I love reading books like this; books that separate the here and now from the before. Where one irreversible action or decision will forever change the future. Those moments you live with regret for, wishing you could take back and change the course of history. Let me tell you, this book had these moments in spades

There was a constant yearning in my soul to keep reading this book, and although I read it fast (thanks to the audiobook), I could not devour this story fast enough. I needed there to be solace for these characters that had just faced utter devastation; I needed to know they would somehow be okay.

Chapter seventeen broke me, and I could not stop crying.

Thérèse Plummer's audiobook narration is a work of art. Her voice went from light, bouncy, airy, and genuinely happy to full of condensation, confusion, and remorse; the tone of the story perfectly mirrored in her narration. It is clear that this book affected Plummer as there is an audible sniff during the most heartbreaking part. Macmillan Audio, all I can do is ask for it to remain in the final audiobook production. This show of emotion added something beautiful, special, and peaceful to my experience as I sat bawling my eyes out; it allowed me to know I wasn't alone with my feelings for these characters.

In short, put this on your TBR immediately, devour it, and thank me later. I'm still baffled that this is a debut novel. Koval wrote the best, most layered, and intricate of stories. And I loved it.

Thank you NetGalley, Celadon Books and Macmillan Audio for the complimentary copies to read and review.

This story jumps right in with teenage Nora killing her brother, Nico. Blam, here we are! After this initial excitement, the book slows down quite a bit as the author took me for a walk with each character, meandering and weaving quite the twisted, dramatic tale. She made me hate some of the characters, love some of them, empathize with some, and even root for them at times. The last third of this book was so intense. This snowball of a story turns into a full blown avalanche in the last third of the book as all the pieces, story lines, and truths come to light.

I switched back and forth between the physical book and the audiobook that was narrated by Thérèse Plummer. Thérèse did a fantastic job with the multitude of characters she voiced. I never once got confused on what character was speaking.

I am not a huge fan of a slow burn, but the author did such a great job with character development and then tied all the story lines together at the end that I really enjoyed this book. It's so hard to believe this was a debut novel!

I enjoyed this story. Great character building & lots of pieces in play. I was enthralled the whole time--but, I found the conclusion/twist obvious. Recommended if you love suspense.

[arc review]
Thank you to Celadon Books for providing an arc, and to Macmillan Audio for providing an advanced audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
Penitence releases January 28, 2025

This story opens up with the shocking development of a thirteen-year-old girl who has just shot and killed her fourteen-year-old brother with juvenile Huntington’s.
What lead to the shooting? And how does a family recover from such a fraught turn of events?

I don’t know what it was about this book, whether it was the writing style or the narration itself, but no matter what time of day I picked it up to read or listen to, it put me to sleep! This was not suspenseful like it claimed to be.

I was able to guess early on where things were headed because there’s only one reason why there’d be so much time dedicated to focusing on the past relationship between Angie and Julian, rather than the immediate household who were grieving the loss of one child while criminally defending the other.

The themes of forgiveness felt half-assed, to put it bluntly, and it didn’t feel as though the characters were given enough time to sit and reflect upon their emotions between the initial moment of blindside up to the act of forgiveness itself.

If you’re a reader who needs to know the “why” — especially to something as vital as the driving force of the entire plot, then you’ll likely be sorely disappointed.

I think I could’ve loved this had it been centered more around Nora and Nico and written in first person.

cw: animal death, 9/11, cheating

Wow, I did not expect the emotional roller coaster that this book took me on! Thinking it was more mystery than a family drama, I was so surprised by this book. I could not put it down. I loved the different perspectives and story lines, the multiple tragedies and how they impact everyone surrounding them. Themes of mental illness, death of children, children in the justice system, addiction and more are all woven into this book, in what I felt was a respectful and emotional way. This book makes you think from the first page, about forgiveness, how tragedy impacts the trajectory of live and how things are not always what they seem. Overall, an incredibly well done book that you will fly through!

Thank you netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

For fans of Angie Kim, Jodi Picoult and Mary Beth Keane- Penitence is the emotional story of forgiveness and love and if the worst thing you've ever done should define you. The story opens just after thirteen year old Nora has shot and killed her fourteen year old brother Nico. Nora and Nico's parents, Angie and David, bring in a family from Angie's past to help with Noras legal counsel. What starts out as a mystery of why a sister would kill her beloved older brother, turns into a more complex story of the tale of two families, lost love, medical issues, the juvenile court system, and the power of forgiveness. Kristin Koval has a written a beautiful novel that while note quite a thriller, is fast paced and high tension, while delving into a lot of serious and heart-wrenching topics. This will for sure be a stand out of 2025 for many!

There’s no mystery about who killed Nico Sheehan. His 13 year-old sister Nora called 911 and confessed to the shooting. But her parents, Angie and Dave, are left reeling with a far more painful question: why would Nora kill the brother she adored? They do know that the need the help of the only defense lawyer in their small town -- Martine Dumont -- even if she is the mother of Angie's first true love, Julian. But involving Martine and Julian in Nora's case threatens to dredge up long-buried secrets from a tragic past.

Told in dual timelines, Penitence reminded me of the contemporary family dramas found in early novels by Jodi Picoult and Liane Moriarty. The events of the 2016-2017 timeline follow Nora's case through the justice system, while the other timeline goes back and examines Angie and Julian's relationship, starting with their high school romance. Both timelines weave together to create a complex tapestry of these families that are bound by tragedies and secrets. Kristin Koval creates a vivid, intricate portrait of families haunted by tragedy and guilt, exploring themes of blame, redemption, and the possibility of forgiveness—even when it feels unattainable.

The narration by Thérèse Plummer is absolutely stunning. She does not merely read the words on the page but suffuses the story with the character's emotions. Absolutely some of the best narration work I have heard.

Penitence balances suspense and emotional depth and is a must-read for those who are drawn to character-driven stories that explore family secrets and moral dilemmas.

Content note: This book contains passages about the events of September 11, 2001 and how people living and visiting NYC were effected that day and in the following weeks.

This is a great book I got this is an arc on NetGalley. You should definitely delete it if you haven’t it’s well worth the read.

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Pub Date: 1/28
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Penitence was a phenomenal read. I went into this one completely blind, but I ended up so shocked at how many different emotions I felt while reading this but also how much I connected to this particular story (and no nothing like this story has ever happened to me before).
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Right from the start, I felt drawn to this story, to this family, to this situation. Koval jumps right into the tragedy and continues with such heart wrenching realizations and hardships. All of the emotions from these characters felt so raw and so real. This is such a difficult subject matter that was handled with the utmost grace, while really hitting home the and I really appreciated that. I really enjoyed each and every single one of the characters, I loved learning about their pasts and who they had become in their later years.
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Penitence is a pretty stead to fast paced read. I found myself not able to put this one down. I wanted to know exactly what was going to happen and I absolutely loved where Koval took this one. I felt like there were the right amounts of twists and shocking moments that had me gasping out loud while maintaining the seriousness of the situation at hand.
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I listened to this one via audiobook and Therese Plummer was fantastic for this one. I loved everything about the audiobook, and I am highly recommending it. If you are thinking of picking this one up - be sure to grab the audio!
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The fact that this book is a debut is mind blowing. Koval was able to create the perfect atmosphere, take a truly tough topic and write it with grace and she was able to make a fantastic mystery / family drama. I am singing all the praises for this one. I very much enjoyed this book, and I am highly recommending it to all of my friends. Huge thank you to NetGalley, Kristin Koval and MacMillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

I listened to the audio while reading a copy of this book.
The narrator,, Therese Plummer, did a fantastic job of bringing this book to life. Of bringing out emotions and reality. Making you feel what the characters felt. One of the best audios I've listened to.

I believe this is a debut novel. It's one you don't want to miss. It has so many feelings and will give you such deep emotions. In parts I got goosebumps and sure shed lots of tears. But the overall story is so good. It made me look at some things in a whole new way. Especially where kids who have committed crimes are concerned.

This is a story of a murder and the road to forgiveness. A story of a family torn apart by a tragedy that they never saw coming. This is a story that will definitely make you shed so many tears. And wonder why. Why did this happen?

Angie and David Sheehan have two children. Until they don't. Nora and Nico are very close siblings. Even in age they are being just eleven months apart. Nico is fourteen and Nora thirteen. Then Nora takes her dads gun out of his gun safe and shoots Nico three times. What could have made her do such a thing.

David goes to Martine Dumont, a lawyer, for help. He begs her to help his daughter. Martine is not a criminal defense attorney so she calls her son Julian. Martine and Julian have been somewhat estranged for many years. Only talking on the phone occasionally. Julian is also Angie's ex boyfriend. In high school the two were inseparable. Until they weren't.

This book is three stories in one but not in the least hard to follow. Each thing comes together in a way that makes the story that much better. This book is almost perfection. It's a story of people who need forgiveness. Of ones finding it. Of ones giving it. Sometimes it's hard to find forgiveness. And sometimes people just never think they deserve it.

I could not put this book down. It was that good. I have to highly recommend it to everyone I know. Yes it's sad but it's not graphic about things. No blood and gore. No horrors. Just a story that will hold your heart hostage until the very end.

Thank you #NetGalley, #CeladonBoos, #MacmillianAudio, for this ARC.

Five big stars.

Penitence
author: Kristin Koval
narrator: Therese Plummer
Macmillan Audio
Mystery & Thrillers/New Adult
Pub date: 01/28/25

Penitence is Kristin Koval's outstanding debut novel. A tragedy occurs in Angie and David's family, leaving them shattered and forced to seek legal counsel. Readers learn of complicated relationships between the family and other prominent characters in the story. It is presented in dual timeline format, with settings of Colorado and New York City. The intense, thought provoking narrative provides themes of forgiveness and grief, centered around heartbreak and family dynamics.

Narrator Therese Plummer captures the complexity of the heavy topics covered in the book with an emotionally compelling delivery of Koval's writing. Her voice really lets listeners into the world of deep trauma as experienced by the characters. Plummer has been consistently excellent in her narration for all the books I have listened to by her, and this one is added to that list.

I received an advance listening copy through NetGalley and Macmillan Audio. My review is my own.

#MacmillanAudio #Penitence #TheresePlummer
#KristinKoval #MacAudio2024