When teenager Sam's life is turned upside down after being removed from the care of her father and placed into foster care. Stuck out in the middle of nowhere and cut off from everyone and everything she has ever known. Sam begins to realise that all is not as it should be and that something is seriously wrong here.
This book has me hooked by the end of the first page! I could not put it down, it was packed full of twists and turns and kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time! This is the first time I have read a book written by Theo Baxter and I was not disappointed! I look forward to reading more.
There are multiple trigger warnings for this book, please make sure you look into these prior to reading

The Other Family started quiete slow - I really thought about not finishing it. In hindsight though it was needed to build a connection to Sam and Jesse.

After Jesses mental breakdown things take a turn for the worse and Sam is put with the Bradfords. From that moment I couldn't put down the book and had to know how on earth Sam will get away from those psychos!

The story was written from two POVs (Sam and Jesse) and both views were needed to understand them better. The girls in that house made me so angry because I just couldn't understand why on earth they didn't really do anything (even after Sam arrives).

At least towards the end they woke up and fought and the ending was great.

So. this was my first book of 2025 and honestly I was not much impressed.
Sam, a 15-year old is sent to a foster family after her mother's death and father's mental breakdown and the foster family is weird, has secrets, got some weird ways to punish kids, a locked door and everything which might make a book interesting. But, this one fell flat. The inital chapters were too slow, after that same things kept on reapeating, It took almost 3-4 chapters for her father to lose her custody.
Intial chapters were too slow and later the chapters has so many things going on!

This was a dark and disturbing book that is told from 2 different POVs; a father and a daughter. The majority of the book is from Samantha’s POV, but some chapters are from Jesse and how he struggles with losing custody of his daughter after an attempt to kill himself. It does discuss PTSD on soldiers who fought in times of war, and that also apparently made the father into a survivalist. There is an anti government theme through the books as well, be it law enforcement or the military as a whole. The story moves quickly but it also goes to dark places when Samantha is placed with a foster family.

This is definitely probably gonna be a top read of 2025!!! I really enjoyed this one. It was hard to put down. It kept me wanting more. The characters are amazing! And I love the title and the story line. Such an amazing book!

I try to start all my reviews with something positive, but for this book, all I can say is, that I finished it and I'm glad the girls got the ending they did.
Apart from that, the book has the writing style of the average wattpad fanfiction, no twists and turns and no tension arc.
Overall the book had a big pacing issue. The first 25% were extremely drawn out for no reason and the last few chapters were stuffed to the limit.
All the dialogue felt stilted and unnatural. The characters were one dimensional (up until the end, when at least Chloe got a little personality) and their motivations were very simplyfied.
Also, I didn't feel like Jesse's POV chapters added anything to the book, except for like the last three when stuff finally started happening.

Still, thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Review: The Other Family by Theo Baxter
Pub Date Jan 26 2025
General Fiction, Mystery & Thrillers
My Rating:🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥
Thank you @netgalley @inkubatorbooks


The Other Family is a mind-blowing psychological thriller that completely left me in silence and deep thought after finishing it. It’s the kind of book that grabs your attention from the first page and doesn’t let go until the shocking, satisfying ending.

The story follows fifteen-year-old Sam Cotton, a brave and resourceful girl who’s been through immense trauma. After losing her mother and witnessing her father’s mental breakdown, Sam is placed in the custody of the Bradfords, a foster family that initially seems religious and well-meaning. But appearances can be deceiving.

The Bradfords’ home is a nightmare in disguise—a place where the rules are cruel, punishments are horrifying, and the house itself is filled with dark secrets. Sam is stripped of her identity, forced into ugly clothes, and subjected to endless chores while being watched by cameras at every turn. The house, isolated in the middle of nowhere, is designed to trap its victims, with no way out.

As Sam uncovers the sinister truth about the Bradfords and the fate of the girls who lived there before her, the tension skyrockets. The forbidden rooms, the eerie monitoring, and the disappearances create an atmosphere of dread that keeps you glued to the pages. Sam's realization that no one is coming to save her is chilling, but her determination to fight back and protect the other girls is nothing short of inspiring.

This book is horrifying in its realism, shedding light on the dark realities that exist in some corners of the world. The vivid descriptions of the punishments, the secret room, and the constant fear create an unforgettable experience. The ending was both satisfying and heart-pounding, giving closure while leaving a lasting impression.

If you love fast-paced, unputdownable thrillers with shocking twists, The Other Family is a must-read. Theo Baxter delivers a gripping tale of survival, courage, and resilience. Highly recommended.

#TheOtherFamily #NetGalley.

This book was amazing! The author described the characters so well. The foster home with all the secrets had me wanting more.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley for my honest opinion.

A great thriller, had me on the edge of my seat despite the slower start, didn't see the twists coming, captivating writing and palpable tension, would recommend for fans of Jewell or McFadden

Awesome book!! Great author! Will be looking for more!!!!!!!!!!! Excellent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Other Family promised an intriguing premise of psychological suspense but ultimately falls short.

We follow fifteen-year-old Sam Cotton as she grapples with the trauma of losing her mother and her father Jesse's mental collapse, landing her in the care of the mysterious and remote Bradford family. At first, the Bradfords seem like a devout and upright household, but their oppressive rules, hidden rooms, and invasive surveillance quickly suggest something far more sinister.

Baxter succeeds in creating a dark and foreboding atmosphere, that I have to give it to him. However, the novel’s execution falters in repetitive writing, the overuse of "I gritted my teeth," grated on me and detracted me from the story whenever it came up.

I didn't agree with the survivalist part of the characters, sorry. It was difficult to root for anyone at the start.

While the premise is promising, the narrative struggled to deliver. The key plot felt predictable, and the climactic moments lack the payoff one might expect in a psychological thriller. I wouldn't discourage anyone from reading this, but do approach with tempered expectations.

In The Other Family by Theo Baxter, 15-year-old Sam Cotton is placed in foster care after a series of tragedies uproot her life. She moves into the Bradford home, a place that seems perfect on the surface but harbors dark secrets. As Sam struggles to adjust to her new life, she begins to notice unsettling events and discovers that the family she thought she could trust might not be what they seem. The Other Family was an okay read for me. While categorized as a thriller, it felt more like a young adult story due to its focus on the perspective of a 15-year-old narrator. The plot leaned toward predictability, and I found myself questioning whether some of the characters would fully develop their storylines. The book does include some heavy topics, so I would recommend a trigger warning for potential readers which is included at the beginning. Despite its flaws, it’s a decent read for those looking for a lighter mystery with some emotional undertones.

A chill inducing story that had me on the edge of my seat and holding my breath. The beginning was a bit slow but it picks up quickly and knocked my socks off. It was the perfect amount of creepy and thrilling.

Theo Baxter delivers another chilling tale with The Other Family, a gripping psychological thriller that cements his reputation as a master of unsettling narratives. This latest novel may start slowly, but once the tension builds, it exceeds expectations with a storyline that is both captivating and deeply unnerving.

Baxter skillfully creates an atmosphere of dread, weaving together elements of suspense and creepiness that keep readers on edge. What makes this story particularly haunting is its connection to real-life parallels, amplifying its impact. The plausibility of the events, combined with Baxter’s deft storytelling, ensures a story that lingers long after the final page.

Readers should heed the trigger warnings provided, as the book explores dark and potentially distressing themes. This attention to detail shows Baxter’s care for his audience while allowing him to delve into complex, unsettling subject matter.

Once the narrative picks up pace, it becomes impossible to put down. Baxter’s ability to craft unexpected twists and compelling characters elevates the story, making it one of his creepiest and most memorable works to date. Fans of the genre will appreciate his ability to balance psychological tension with moments of outright horror.

For long-time fans or newcomers to Baxter’s work, The Other Family is a must-read. It’s a testament to his talent and a thrilling addition to his growing body of work. Readers will undoubtedly be eagerly awaiting his next novel.

This is a really gripping and thoughful novel, and at times heart rending. It really drew me in, after a slow start, and it was well worth sticking with. I really enjoyed and wanted to keep reading to find out what happened next.

Although this book took quite a while for me to get into, once the pace picked up, I was completely engrossed all the way through to the end.

Jesse and Sam Cotton are survivalists, classed as outcasts in their small town. But when Jesse has a mental breakdown, things get worse as Sam is taken by social services to live with the Bradfords when Jesse loses custody of his daughter.

I liked the dual POV for this book. Told through the eyes of both Sam and Jesse in different chapters, both characters had a distinct voice of their own, and it was easy to move into the switch of perspective.

Once the book picked up and the Bradfords really got going with their reign of terror, I couldn't put the book down, wanting to know what would happen next.

There were definitely some moments where I questioned why characters would/wouldn't do something, but that is a me problem and nothing to do with the overall story.

Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book via Netgalley.

I was fortunate enough to read this as an ARC through Netgalley.
I enjoyed the story, the premise was great, but the writing style just wasn't for me.
I think this would probably suit a YA audience quite well., bearing in mind I've never read anything by this author before, so have nothing to compare to.
Book is due to be released in January 2025,

Well, that was an interesting one! Thanks #netgalley and Theo Baxter for letting me ARC read this book!

What drew me in was the cover and description, we all know the foster system is full of flaws.. Reading this, I had to keep in mind it was fiction but you know.. It could've been true for someone. Fiction like this always has my heart aching. The foster family are hiding behind the name of God but their true selves are closer to the devil than can be.

Jesse, father of Sam will do everything and anything to get her daughter back home. Not trusting the government isn't in his favor as he needs help with his own mental health, luckily he finds someone like minded.

The story had me in it's grip, the only thing I found a bit weird was that the shrink, who was irrelevant to the remaining girls, stepped up to take them in.

A book with mystery and good suspense. Thrilling, not overly so.

Favorite quote from this book:
" Sometimes the only way to overcome your nightmares is to slay the monster plaguing you in the first place "

I was lucky enough to be selected to read this before the official release on 26th Jan 2025 - thanks NetGalley!

This book had me enthralled from the very beginning. The style of writing had me believe I was right there with Sam, living the experiences she was suffering! I can’t remember the last time I read a book that had me so hooked! I will be thoroughly recommend this one!

I haven’t read a book this quickly in as long as I can remember, I stayed up late so many nights just to expose the story a little more. It’s a real page turner and I’ll be thinking about this one for some time to come.

Another great thriller from Theo Baxter. Loved the alternate point of views, the storyline and how tense it was. It was the right amount of creepy, interesting and fast paced. I also enjoyed the father daughter dynamic and the girl power. Loved it!