Reviews with content warning for Bullying - Gone Tonight: A Novel

full vlog & thoughts here: https://youtu.be/aU1dMqwHOO4?si=pp2KfInddFJ0_4we

I fully expected to LOVE this book especially since I love the author duo.

This book had a great premise and setup. I was really loving it when it started and was so excited to see where it was going to go. In the end, I felt the book revealed too much too soon and that made the ending drag. Nothing groundbreaking and a bit predictable for me, but not the worst in my opinion.

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bekah1210's review against another edition

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dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

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oceanwriter's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

It’s been a few months since I’ve read a psychological thriller and I can’t think of a better one to have come back to the genre. With quiet twists and extraordinarily flawed yet lovable characters, I was hooked.

Though Catherine has always had a good relationship with her mother Ruth, she’s ready to leave home and begin a life and career of her own. Her plans change when her mother receives an Alzheimer’s diagnosis from her doctor. Not willing to waste a minute of the time left with Ruth, she cancels her moving plans.

Ruth begins to write down her life story for her daughter… but not for the reasons one might expect at such a time. She’s worked the entirety of Catherine’s life to keep her past buried. Not only her past but also the secrets Catherine unknowingly carries. It isn’t long before Catherine begins to pick up on the fact something deeper is amiss. How well does she really know her mother?

While the book keeps a slower pace than usually found in these kinds of thrillers, there is a constant string of events weaved in and out. Through Ruth, we get glimpses of her past. Through Catherine, we hear recollections of her mother and the conflict the plot brings into their relationship. I found Catherine’s character the most fascinating element of the book. Some might disagree with me, but I also found Ruth’s love for her child admirable under the circumstances. I feel she did the best she could with what she had.

I listened to the audiobook version. Kate Mara did a fantastic job narrating. Sometimes I don’t love listening to thrillers because the narrator will be too dramatic. There was the perfect amount of emotion and urgency conveyed without becoming theatrical. That said, the story would have benefited from two narrators so each character had their own voice. Nevertheless, the reading experience was not hindered because of the single narrator.

Gone Tonight is easily the best thriller I’ve read this year. I can’t wait to read Sarah Pekkanen’s other books.

A huge thanks to Macmillan Audio for inviting me to listen to an audio ARC of this book through NetGalley! I am looking forward to purchasing a hard copy for myself.

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ehoffman563's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Thank you to #NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ARC audiobook of Gone Tonight by Sarah Pekkanen.

I've previously enjoyed co-authored works by Pekkanen and Greer Hendricks, so I thought I would like this book as well. It was a middle-of-the-road read/listed for me. Kate Mara did a wonderful job with the narration.

Ruth Sterling and her daughter Catherine have always been together - just the 2 of them. Ruth begins to show signs of

Alzheimer's disease. Which I find completely unnecessary to the plot and ridiculous seeing as how Cathering works at a memory care facility. A little too on the nose, there.

Catherine was supposed to move to start a new job, but because of Ruth's recent situation, Catherine is re-thinking her move and starts to discover new things about her mother. Little does Catherine know, that the further she keeps digging, the more dangerous things become for her and her mom.

I saw the ending coming from a mile away - the final 'twist' is very predictable. I do enjoy Pekannen's writing a flow, which is why I gave it 3 stars instead of 2.

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