Outlier opinion coming in hot! I know this has been a HUGE hit with many. Sadly this didn't work for me.

I had a really hard time getting into this, in part due to the negative way women are portrayed and unrealistic plot points. I couldn't connect with ANY of the characters. The protagonist, Maggie, was unlikeable. She’s self indulgent, narcissistic and controlling as a teenager and even worse as an adult. Yet she's also inexplicably dependent on men. There's a lot of sex, drugs and alcohol and general all around poor decision making. I couldn’t empathize with her at all and she annoyed me to no end. Oddly enough a secondary character, Johnny, (a stoner drug dealer) was my favorite part of the entire story. He seemed the most realistic and and made me chuckle.

I can see where the author was trying to go with some of the more emotional aspects of a wife and mother dying prematurely and wanting her family to be cared for. However, many of the interactions between characters didn't ring true. A lot of this story also hinges on an aspect I didn't care for, making subsequent events illogical and implausible.

The audiobook production however, was STELLAR and January LaVoy perfectly performs a stunning amount of distinctive voices all of which are richly INFUSED with emotion. She's the reason I finished the book. She’s a true pleasure to listen to and breathes life into the story.

Thank you Blackstone for the free audiobook. All opinions are mine.

Wow! This was so good! Unlike anything I’ve ever read/listened to! I was so invested the whole time and loved the character development. My only complaint was that the ending seemed a bit abrupt and I wanted a bit more. I enjoyed the narration as well and thought they did a good job going back and forth between timelines! I can’t wait to read more from this author in the future.

This book was definitely one where if grief is a trigger you should think about reading this or not. I enjoyed the narrator when she was speaking for a woman but not when she was talking with a man. It was too slow burn for me. I did not see the twists coming.

A FIVE for me!

I’ve heard you either love Don’t Tell Me How to Die or don’t care for it. Fortunately, I’m in the former group.

From the first chapter, this book gripped my mind and held on for days. I couldn’t stop thinking about it long after I finished. Maggie, Lizzie, their parents, and Maggie’s friend are characters who will stay with me. It’s a story I won’t forget!

I know I should tell you more, but you’ll enjoy it most if you go in blind.

So here’s the bare minimum: Maggie’s mother dies of an aggressive blood cancer at forty-three. When Maggie reaches the same age, she learns she has the same disease and only months to live. Like her mother, she doesn’t want her husband, Alex, to end up with an unsuitable woman. Determined to find a worthy partner for Alex and a loving presence for her children, Kevin and Katie, Maggie sets out to choose someone she approves of to complete her family after she’s gone.

It sounds straightforward, right? Nope, so many formidable twists that made this book a fantastic novel!

Cliffhanger: No

5/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Blackstone Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗖𝗞 𝗣𝗟𝗢𝗧 𝗣𝗘𝗘𝗞
Shaped by the shadow of an incurable illness, Maggie begins making plans for the life her family will lead after she’s gone. As she wrestles with the decisions ahead, she reflects on the path that brought her to this moment - uncovering truths that shock, surprise, and ultimately reshape her understanding of the life she’s built.

𝗛𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗢𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗢𝗡
Let’s start with the good news: this book is seriously entertaining. It’s super readable, really addictive, and if you can get the audiobook, do it. January LaVoy is flawless - she nails every voice, from teenagers to Jewish therapists. I adore her.

Now the heads-up: this isn’t really a thriller until the final 20%. And I mean not at all. If you’re a ride-or-die thriller reader like I am, that’s worth knowing going in.

The story’s told across multiple timelines and mainly follows Maggie, who’s easy to root for. Even though the subject matter is heavy, it’s not a gut-wrencher - it’s actually hopeful, full of depth, and packed with great characters.

The final stretch is where the thriller elements kick in. I guessed one twist, but there were still plenty of surprises, and the ending totally landed for me.

𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗛 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗?
Bearing in mind that this is pretty much a non-thriller thriller, it’s so entertaining that I highly recommend it. If possible, listen to the audiobook. It’s not only brilliantly narrated, it totally enhances the vibe and awesomeness of the book!

Thanks to @Netgalley and
@BlackstonePublishing for access to this advanced readers copy

I had to give this one a couple days to sink in. This book was super twisty, and I found the premise to be unique. There were some parts that seemed a bit far fetched, but I overall enjoyed it. I was sucked in from the beginning and ended up finishing the book in one day. Following the journey of a woman diagnosed with only months to live that also lost her mother to the same rare disorder, you get a chance to glimpse her past and present. Be prepared for a roller coaster ride when you dive into this one! January LaVoy is a fantastic narrator and really brought the story to life. I felt so many emotions listening to this book. If you want a super twisty, emotional psychological thriller, check this one out! Thank NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for providing me with an ALC in exchange for an honest review!

Maggie has a ticking clock. Her mother died from a rare blood disease, and she has convinced her or her sister, Lizzy, will inherit this disease. She has become accustomed to the blood draws every 6 months. The constant waiting to find out if your life is going to end young. Now at forty-three, she receives the call she's been dreading her entire adulthood. She's going to die; she has the same blood disease as her mother. Now she knows there are things she must set in motion for her husband and children before she dies.

This book is twisty, dark and full of surprises. Plenty of suspense to keep you engaged. After the first chapter I was completely sucked in. I love that this book is full of short chapters, that is absolutely one of my FAVORITE things in a book, aside from the plot and twists!

January Lavoy did a fantastic job portraying these characters, especially Maggie. She is easy to listen to, easy to follow even with speeds turned up to 2.5.

Absolutely cannot recommend this book enough! I really enjoyed the audiobook format and would highly suggest giving this one a listen! I've never read anything by Marshall Karp before, but I'm committed to finding more of his work!

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing - Audiobooks for this ALC in exchange for my honest review.

This one sucked me in right away and I read(listened) in 2 sittings.Just kept me so entertained the whole time, I have finally realized that pace is just as or sometimes more than, content. For the first time ever, this book made me want to check out some of this author's James Patterson collaborations. Patterson is no doubt a very talented writer and in the past I've read some of his books, but the cookie cutter sameness of his are usually not for me Marshall Karp has many more on his own that I've already put on hold at my library.If you like fast action crime fiction,police procedurals,or Michael Connelly's work,I highly encourage you to check out this 5 star treat!

Thank you to Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for this advanced reader copy

Dark, twisty, and totally addictive.
Maggie has three months to live-and one last mission: find the perfect woman to take her place as wife to her husband and mother to her kids. But this isn't a gentle goodbye. Maggie is smart, unfiltered, and possibly unhinged-and I was hooked from the first page.
This story is packed with jaw-dropping twists, biting humor, and emotional gut-punches. Just when I thought I had it figured out, Karp flipped the entire story on its head. And that ending? I'm still recovering.
Told in a dual timeline with a deeply unreliable narrator and a voice you won't forget, Don't Tell Me How to Die is unlike anything l've read. January LaVoy nails the audiobook performance-funny, raw, and absolutely riveting.
Highly recommend if you love thrillers that mess with your head in the best way.
Do you like the unsettling element of an unreliable narrator? What are you up to this weekend?

Book Review: Don’t Tell Me How to Die by Marshall Karp

This book was a wild ride in the best way possible. Don’t Tell Me How to Die is a gripping, darkly clever, and emotionally layered thriller that pulls you in with its unique premise and keeps you guessing right up to the final pages.

Our narrator is a woman with a terminal diagnosis and a ticking clock. She’s determined to find someone worthy to step into her shoes as wife and mother—but she’s not just playing matchmaker; she’s also haunted by the past and driven by a fierce need to protect her family from the kind of woman who once nearly destroyed them.

The character development is top-notch. You feel every bit of her fear, love, and rage. The voice is sharp, funny, and brutally honest, and the storytelling weaves between past and present effortlessly. And the twists? So good. Just when I thought I had it figured out, the book pulled the rug out from under me. The ending totally surprised me, and I love when that happens.

If you’re looking for a thriller with heart, edge, and one unforgettable narrator, this one should be at the top of your list.

Stop your scrolling and take some notes, people!! This book will be one of your favorite thrillers of the year! I am so thankful to my friend Marisha for putting this one on my radar and I am now a proud card-carrying member of the Marshall Karp fan club.

My short synopsis:
Maggie finds out she has the same deadly blood disease that killed her mother. She and her sister had to deal with the “casserole ladies” trying to win over her grieving (and newly single) father and she’s determined to keep that from happening to her own children. Yep, she’s going to find her replacement before she dies. And that’s when the twists start twisting. What ends up happening will have you screaming from the rooftop, telling all who will listen to READ THIS BOOK.

To put the honey on the biscuit, January LaVoy narrates the audiobook. January…LaVoy. Guys. If I haven’t already convinced you to read this one, that definitely should. Read it, listen to it, read and listen at the same time…idc how you do it, just do it!

Story: 2 Stars
Audio: 3 Stars
Narrator: January LaVoy
Available: 3/5/25

I’m sitting here trying to find a positive thing to say about this novel & all I can come up with is that it was short. This had me rolling my eyes from start to finish. I would’ve DNF after the first part but a lot of 5-star reviews said the story picked up in part two. It didn’t.

One of the biggest problems for me was the main character, Maggie. She was insufferable as a teenager and as an adult. Not one redeeming quality. The sibling dialogue, funny wasn’t funny, ‘BFF’ Misty, ‘madame mayor’ were just a few other annoyances. The ‘twist’ was not worth the struggle.

I will say that this reminded me of a Freida McFadden novel, which for me is not compliment. This one may be better in print verse audio. Audio amplified the silliness of the whole story. Wish I’d had the same experience of other readers.

Listened at 1.25 speed.

***ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

🎧WOW! This book is everything. Yet nothing I thought it would be, but in all the best ways. Talk about an unexpected emotional experience! I laughed, I cried, I was shocked. So beautifully moving while also packing some unexpected twists!

I wouldn’t exactly call this a psychological thriller. It’s like nothing I’ve read before. Definitely has thriller vibes though, especially towards the end.

A brilliantly woven story of Kate and her daughter Maggie who share a rare disease at the same time in their lives. Both taking any measures necessary to make sure their families are protected.

I highly recommend you read this book!! So good!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing Audiobooks for a copy..

This was a fun listen, thank you! New to this author but will check out more in the future. The story was engaging and overall enjoyed it!

This book was really engaging! I went in with no expectations and was pleasantly surprised to see how the blend of literary fiction and an aspect of suspense was included in the story. I enjoyed the way that it was balanced, between the two, and the way that the alternate time frames were tied in to share the details about the story too. Absolutely will recommend this book to others.

🔪Book Review🔪
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Thank you @blackstonepublishing and @netgalley for the advanced audio arc of Don’t Tell me How to Die. This book was SO wild, I loved every minute of it. It was a unique and just had so much heart. It had such a wild twist and total Gone Girl Vibes. Told from switching time lines, each chapter was more interesting that the next. Highly recommend this twisty wild read ! 😍
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Rating- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Summary- I had it all: a fantastic husband, two great kids, an exciting career. And then, at the age of forty-three, I found out I would be dead before my next birthday. 
My mother also died young. I was seventeen, and she warned me that women would flock to my suddenly single father like stray cats to an overturned milk truck. They did. And one absolutely evil woman practically destroyed his life, mine, and my sister’s.
I am not letting that happen to my family.
I have three months, and I plan to spend every waking minute searching for the perfect woman to take my place as Alex’s wife, and mother to Kevin and Katie.
You’re probably thinking, She’ll never do it. Did I mention that in high school I was voted “Most Likely to Kill Someone to Get What She Wants”?   
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QOTD- what are you currently reading ?! I’m working on the house of sea and breath!

This book was PHENOMENAL!!!

100/10. Definitely a 5 star read for me. My only this month actually.

The perfect mix of it all, but a bomb mystery and thriller. I loved every second of the audio and binged in less than a day.

Ok wow. This book blew me away!

It isn’t what I would necessarily class as a thriller but I so loved the story and getting to know these characters and all the things they go through and experience. The MC is flawed but doesn’t pretend to be otherwise.

What I found exceptional is how everything throughout the entire story (which is a span of like 25 years) all connects in the end. I really loved how it played out. The twists! I didn’t see any of it coming. 🤯🤯🤯

Left me in awe! Fantastic book!

And the narration was amazing! I love this narrator.

You need to add this if it is not on your list. It is a twisty, crazy ride, not at all what I expected, and it kept me on my toes the entire time. I loved every second of it and the audio was great. It will be in my top reads for sure.

Thank you to TLC Book Tours, Blackstone Publishing and Macmillan Audio for the gifted copies to review and for having me on this tour!

I loved this book! I listened on audio and it was excellent. I finished in ONE day! It’s a fast paced, mystery/thriller that keeps you guessing! I love the writing and the flawed characters! There are so many twists that I didn’t see coming and a couple I did so you really think you have it and then you don’t. The story was original and the plot didn’t disappoint. I especially loved the dark humor and biting sarcasm. The story is about two sisters who have a rare genetic blood cancer in their family that could have an early death sentence for them just like their mother. The main characters love their perfect lives as adults in spite of the tragic loss of their mother at a young age from this disease and the story picks up from there. I highly recommend this book to any book lover! I will definitely be checking out Marshall Karp’s other books!