I really didn't enjoy this book as much as I had anticipated. The story itself is good but the style of writing seems flat and stilted. The first of the book drags and then after about 60% of the way through the author speeds things up and hurries to get.it all in. There a lot of nefarious things happening and some seem a little far fetched. Lots of triggers here, suicide, abuse, alcoholism, and violence so be warned. All in all just not my cup of tea but I'm sure some folks will like it.
Thanks to Ner Galley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

It was my first book by Theo Baxter. in general, I like the story. I really like the character Sam and how she was defiant and smart. the family itself is crazy lunatics. I'm really glad how they ended up their lives. The book has two povs, Sam's and her dad's. it was quite easy to read.

Samantha Cotton, age 15, not only has had to cope with the death of her mother, but also with the depression and alcoholism of her survivalist father. Things reach a critical point when, in a drunken state, he puts a gun to his head in front of Sam. She gets the gun away from him, but authorities learn of his behavior and remove Sam from the family's home. She is fostered on an isolated farm with a cultish religious family and finds herself in great danger. While trying to work out a plan to rejoin her father, she learns of the nightmarish secrets in the house, and the horrible abuse her foster sisters have had to endure. She is determined to do whatever it takes to keep from becoming a victim as well.

The vast majority of foster parents are kind and gracious people who have a heart to love the children placed with them. The foster parents depicted in this book are the exact opposite, using the girls as free labor and exploiting them in other ways, while it seems that CPS and the police are complicit. The reader will anxiously cheer Sam on as she seeks to save herself and the other girls. Though I enjoyed the book, I felt that the survivalist aspect of the Cotton family, and the deep distrust of every government institution, was a bit overplayed.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

The Other Family by Theo Baxter is a tense psychological thriller that deals with sensitive subjects such as pedophilia, sexual abuse, and suicide. The way Baxter handles these topics is very well written and does not go into graphic detail.
Samantha Cotton is 15 years old and already has been through loss and pain. She has had to deal with the death of her mother and now her father Jesse is in a mental health spiral exacerbated by alcohol. As survivalists Sam and Jesse are self-reliant but when Sam just barely stops her father from shooting himself, they realize the authorities are bound to get involved. After her dad loses custody of her, Sam is sent to live with Reverend Gareth Bradford and his wife on a remote farm. The Bradfords are ultra religious and are also fostering three other young girls. Soon Sam realizes that the Bradfords have something to hide. Why are there cameras everywhere tracking their every move? What is up with the locked doors? And where does her roommate Grace get taken to every night? Can Sam find out the secrets of the house and be able to be reunited with her father? Or will she never be allowed to leave again?
This book was well written. I have not read anything else by Theo Baxter before so I'm not sure what I expected. The first part of the book was a little slow but it was necessary to build up the tension. The characters are well written and I especially liked watching Sam grow from grief stricken and helpless to empowered. Another thing I commend Baxter for is the way he handled the sensitive topics. He so delicately showed us the inner workings of faith, abuse and the misuse of power while not going too in-depth into these subjects.
Thank you to NetGalley, Theo Baxter and Inkubator Books for this ARC. Expected release date is January 26th 2025.

When Sam’s dad Jesse has a mental breakdown, she is forced to live with a foster family. But although they seem nice and God-fearing, Sam finds locked doors, strict rules and cameras.
I really enjoyed this book!
Release date January 24, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley

Holy cow! Where has Theo Baxter been and why am I only just hearing about this author?!? This book was so good! A suspenseful thriller about foster kids living with a monster. TW: pedophilia, rape, murder, abuse

This book is great, it starts off dark and keeps going!
After her mothers death Samantha is sent to live with the Bradfords and straight away the house doesn't seem right. The couple she goes to live with seem like good citizens, but a bit too good to be true!
The twists and turns show your the terrible way the couple treat not only Samantha but also other children who have been in their care. It takes
you on so many twists and turns with forbidden rooms, cctv psychological and emotional manipulation at its best.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Inkubator Books in exchange for my honest opinion.

Sam and her father, Jesse, are survivalists. Sam is trying to juggle navigating teenage life without her late mother and dealing with her father’s depression, PTSD, and suicidal tendencies. Meanwhile, Jesse is trying to quell the dark thoughts yet ensure Sam has a good upbringing, but this becomes too much. After Jesse’s episode, Sam is clutched by the harrowing claws of social services and forced to live with the Bradfords. This is one family you don’t want to join.

This was my first read by Theo Baxter, so I was a bit dubious at first, but all my worries subsided when I started reading. Although this book started off a little slow, it was necessary as we got to understand the father/daughter relationship that was monumental to the story. Once the pace picked up and the Bradfords released their brutal suppression, I couldn’t stop reading.

Told from dual POV’s (Sam and Jesse’s) over one timeline, we come to understand each character and their mindsets individually, all whilst being propelled into this turbulent storyline. I’d definitely recommend looking into the trigger warnings at the beginning of the book as this is an emotional ride. Baxter touches base on some VERY perturbing and heartbreaking topics as respectfully as possible, shedding light on those gruesome realities that, unfortunately, still exist today. The subjects were covered with enough for us to know what was happening without having to read about it in detail.

Suspense and dread were amplified at certain points of the story which kept me on edge and wanting to know more, but I wouldn’t say this was overly ‘thrilling’. I also found myself questioning certain characters behaviour, but maybe this was more of a ‘me problem’, or I was reading too much into it instead of letting the story flow.

All in all, I did really enjoy the book despite guessing where it was going to go. Everything was wrapped up nicely, which you all know I like from an ending, and I was left feeling satisfied yet emotional.

DNF'd after about 20% or so. In this day and age, I feel like a book like this should be marketed as though it's going to have a lot of anti-government libertarianism and religious pedophila. It was a true bait and switch because the blurb mentioned nothing about the serious issue of the father getting very close to committing suicide in front of his 15 year old daughter.

I have no interest to see if the story gets better. I skipped far enough ahead to various parts and wasn't impressed.

Things haven’t been easy for fifteen-year-old Sam Cotton. She’s just recovering from the death of her mother when her father Jesse has a mental breakdown. She’s taken out of his care and given to a foster family, the Bradfords. The Bradfords live in the middle of nowhere and seem like pious, God-fearing people. But Sam soon notices some disturbing things. The forbidden rooms. The strict rules. The cameras that track her every move.

When Sam discovers that two girls previously fostered by the Bradfords have disappeared without trace, she realises she may be in grave danger. Sam is smart and resourceful. And she’ll need to be - because the Bradfords have a dark secret. A secret which will thrust Sam into a terrifying nightmare from which she may never wake.

This one started off on the slower side, but after I got into it, I couldn't put it down. Great plot, such a creepy vibe - made my skin crawl in some places. Great read!

I received an advanced complimentary digital copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed are my own.

I am going to begin with posting the possible trigger warnings for anyone who may need them.
"This book contains scenes that may depict, mention or discuss: pedophilia, sexual abuse and suicide".

This book is wonderfully written. It immediately pulled me from my hectic life, to my mind picturing this book in detail like a movie. An edge of your seat page turner.
This author is my new favorite!

A fifteen-year-old girl, has delt with losing her mother. It is now just her and her father who has his own mental health issues.
One day, she is ripped from the life she knows and is taken to live with another family. A family that is highly respected and admired by the town. If only they knew what went on in that home.

I had a really hard time getting into this one, it felt very young adult in the writing style and I didn't believe the father's POV chapters at all. Once we got into the foster home and got more of Sam and less of Jesse, it was more palatable, but I would have liked to see a bit more maturity in the prose itself. Overall, not a bad read, just maybe not the right one for me.

Have you ever wondered what lies beneath the surface of a seemingly perfect family? THE OTHER FAMILY by THEO BAXTER is exactly an answer to that, that challenges our understanding of a family that appears perfect, but beneath the façade lies a labyrinth of deception.

The book contains sensitive themes, so readers should be prepared for emotional and possibly triggering content. I love the fact that the book brings about real-life situations, revolving around Identity and Self-Discovery, Secrets and Betrayal, Family Dynamics, The Past's Influence on the Present and Moral Ambiguity. The tone is suspenseful and it builds tension. One of the main characters Samantha, is taken to live with a new family after things didn't go as planned. She later on learns dark secrets as time goes by, about this other new family that she was supposed to be protected by. Characters face difficult choices that raise questions about right and wrong, exploring the lengths one might go to protect their family. One of my favorite quotes is, "It is better to fight than to live in oppression".

I do not find any critiques about the book. The writing style is perfect as it brings Descriptive language,character-driven narration and Realistic Dialogue. The dialogue feels authentic and relatable. I feel like I am part of the book as the book skillfully builds suspense throughout the story, using pacing to keep readers engaged and eager to uncover the unfolding secrets.

I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy suspenseful narratives with a focus on character development. I perfectly rate the book 5 out of 5. Thank you THEO BAXTER for allowing me to access the book via NetGalley.In the end, THE OTHER FAMILY is not just about the ties that bind us, but the secrets that can tear us apart. Why don't you grab a copy and make a difference?

Thank you to NetGalley & Inkubator Books for the chance to read this book!

NGL reading the "triggers" I was a little worried about this one.. wasn't sure if I was going to be able to stomach this book or not, THANK YOU SO MUCH Theo for doing this as tastefully and respectable as you could!! If it started going into too many details about some things I was fully prepared to DNF this one! But Gladly I didn't have to do that, it skirted around the subject enough where you knew what was happening without having to read about it in detail, so I appreciated that. Very good book, pretty fast paced easy read, finished most of it in one sitting before bed. I predicted a little bit of a different ending in my head but this one was alright too, the other I guess could be a little too obvious of a "happy ending". Next time I'll be sure to call him and discuss the ending with him before he finishes the book! haha

Before this book I knew who Cole (his brother) was as an author, but I'll def be adding Theo to my list as authors to look out for! Can never have too many thriller writer's on my list! Excited to read more by him!

This book was OK but read like a young adult read- I actually thought I must have accidentally chosen from that genre. The book centers on Samantha (Sam), who is pulled away from her alcoholic father Jesse and placed in a foster home where 3 other girls are already living. Beyond the fact that she strongly believes that she should not have been removed from her home, she immediately finds that something is not right with her foster parents. Though the story is primarily told from Sam's point of view, you get a few chapters from Jesse dispersed throughout.

The story is an oft-used trope about scary foster homes and doesn't really stand out in the genre. Sam was a likable character and I appreciated her chutzpah. While the subject matter was blithely grim. he language and dialogue used felt most suited to a younger audience. I was never able to figure out the reasoning behind some of the major things that happened, like why Jesse wasn't given a fair chance to plead his case and why Sam was picked for that particular home. The story moved at a fast clip with short chapters, and the ending, though a bit predictable, worked for the rest of the story.

Overall, while I would recommend this book for younger readers but it didn't really stand out for me. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

First book I've read by this author and suspect it won't be the last.
Not the most pleasant of subject matters but the author manages to handle child abuse and paedophilia without going into overly graphic or disturbing detail. A real eye opener however as to how people in a position of power can manipulate others for their own gain and whilst the book is a work of fiction, there is little doubt that events such as this do happen in real life.
Certainly a real page turner and sets you thinking and you'll certainly bond with the victims of the abuse

i truly feel this book would be better suited for a younger audience. i really loved the concept of this story but sadly the book fell short for me. i wasn’t a huge fan of the dialogue, but found that it did get somewhat better towards the end. i did enjoy the short chapters and how they ended in a way that kept me engaged. all that being said the book wasn’t bad, just not for me.

I struggled with the first half of this book. As someone who has worked with the foster systems and the courts who make those decisions, I found the anti-government themes and flaws in the procedures to be very off putting and misleading. In the first few chapters of the book, a single father's right are immediately terminated upon the first hearing with the judge in which the father and daughter knew nothing about. The second half of the book picked up with more plot development and action but this still wasn't my favorite read and almost became a DNF. Thanks to #netgalley for the ARC of this book.

It's rare that I give up on a book without finishing it, but in this case I really should have. There was nothing in the book to hold my interest. The descriptions are as generic and vague as possible. The plot drags. I just can't recommend this one.

Theo Baxter always does a fantastic job in writing this type of psychological thriller, I thought the characters worked well overall and was glad it was so well done. It had a tension and worked with the world that I wanted in this type of book.