Gaslight

I've loved Sara Shepard ever since she came out with the Pretty Little Liars series when I was in high school, so I was excited to pick this one up! While I know she's no stranger to the thriller/suspense scene, the whole cult motif took things to a new level! While I didn't quite love any of the characters in particular, this book was flat out CREEPY! Shepard and Joris-Peyrafitte did an excellent job at creating a setting that set the perfect tone and mood for this story. Thanks so much for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley for letting me read the e-arc of Gaslight. I really enjoyed this book. I love cult-y books and this was insane as well as believable. I definitely think you should give this book a read if you like the kind of books where you're on edge waiting to see what happens and characters that you can't fully trust.

Rebecca is living a peaceful life in Nevada with her husband, Tom, and their two young children. Her past is in the past but she has never completely stopped looking over her shoulder. Then one Saturday morning, her past finally catches up to her. Her former best friend, Danny, shows up on her doorstep. The problem is, Rebecca has never told Tom about her past, about the fact that she was in a cult. She and Danny were both in the cult called ISB.. You are never allowed to leave, so when Rebecca finally found a way out she took it and went on the run, leaving Danny behind. She knows if the cult leader finds out where she is, he will kill her. So she needs to figure out why Danny is here and what she is up to, and see if she can control the narrative before her husband gets suspicious.

I love this author's books, but this one was not one of my favorites. I think it was the subject matter - I always find reading about cults and their members depressing. So that is a "me" thing and has nothing to do with the writing itself. The book started out as a bit of a slow burn, but about halfway through it really picked up the pace and became a thriller. Overall I give this a solid 4 out of 5.

I thought the cult aspect of this book was well executed, it felt believable and authentic, the characters felt a little lack luster in places but overall an enjoyable creepy psychological read

Bex has worked hard to overcome past traumas and built a cozy family life. She has it all: two happy children, a wonderful husband and a gorgeous suburban home. But her comfortable existence is threatened when her old friend Danny shows up at her door.

Danny has spent nearly a decade deeply enmeshed in a dangerous cult. She lives on its compound and is one of its charismatic leader’s romantic partners. She even appears in YouTube videos promoting its teachings. But she tells Bex that she’s ready to leave it all behind. She says she’s run away and needs help from her old friend. Bex doesn’t know what to do. If Danny’s telling the truth, it would be cruel to turn her away. But if she’s lying, and still working for the cult…Bex and her family could be in its crosshairs.

I loved this book. It had the page-turning pacing that I’ve come to expect from Sara Shepard’s thrillers as well as some enjoyable and surprising twists. Like much of Shepard’s other work, female friendship, and the tensions and jealousies that can coexist with heartfelt care, is a big theme. I am a person who has consumed WAY too many documentaries and podcasts about cults, and the one in this book rang true to me. The way characters got sucked in by personal attention and seemingly reasonable teachings felt very realistic, as did the way the cult’s control over their lives escalated.

I would recommend this to anyone looking for a fun thriller, and especially anyone fascinated by cults.

A creepy look at the reality of living in a cult. Feels almost like a memoir or documentary even though it's fiction. Will leave you with goosebumps throughout.

This was a 5 star read for me! I really enjoyed this book. The cover caught my attention and the book kept my attention. I really enjoyed the multiple povs and it’s about joining, living and leaving a cult.