I enjoyed this book but found it a bit predictable to be honest. Very few surprises in it and the plot wasn’t the most exciting. I found it difficult to hold my attention on it.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Louise Jensen for the copy of this book. I agreed to give my unbiased opinion voluntarily.

The premise of The Family is appealing, Laura’s husband has died leaving her and her daughter stilly waiting for an insurance pay out. With the insurance company dragging their heels, Laura turns to the Oak Leaf Farm community for help. Have they given her a lifeline or has she stumbled upon something more than just a farming community?

The book started off really well and I would say I enjoyed the first half. After that though, I felt it went slightly downhill. Firstly the book seemed way too long. A lot of pages with not much happening. It also seemed slightly far fetched towards the end.

Thank you to NetGalley, HQ and the author for the chance to review.

THE FAMILY – LOUISE JENSEN

I read this novel in advance of publication through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I have to confess I had never heard of Louise Jensen, but from her website find that she has sold over a million copies of her books and that one has been optioned for a TV film. Going only on The Family, I can understand the latter, but cannot the former. Though, obviously, to her legion of followers, she must be doing something right.

Positives first: I found the underlying structure of the story intriguing, solid and well-plotted, with plenty of twists and turns along the way. I can understand a screenplay writer having more than enough material with which to work on one of her books and craft an excellent and exciting series.

Now for the negatives. For me, the beginning and the ending were the more readable sections. I thought it began well, and I warmed to the main character. But the middle section, at the cult farmhouse, I found long and tedious, with much of the dialogue for me unbelievable, and boring. It was a little like being trapped in a railway tunnel of which you couldn’t see the end.

Again, at the beginning, I found her prose quite clever. Describing a young child clinging to a parent ‘like a baby monkey’ for example. You can visualise that. Many of the emotions too, I found totally believable and well-articulated. Chapter endings had great hooks, to make you want to go on reading.

But then the prose began to take on a purple hue, until many of the passages became positively histrionic. Many other authors I have reviewed have created considerably greater excitement and tension with far fewer, and well-chosen, words. Everything became so high-pitched that for me it read more like a farce. Light and shade was sacrificed as every phrase was pumped to full volume.

And some character reactions were annoying. Would you, if you were in mortal fear of your life, and you had finally discovered your lost phone, and it was already on power-save as the battery had nearly run out, spend the next minutes not phoning the police for help, for you and your daughter, but reading long texts and messages first? Which causes the phone to, guess what? run out of battery. No. Neither would I.

None of this is to say Louise Jensen can’t write. It is quite obvious that she can. She’s skilful at what she does, and I wish I had her talent. I feel though, with some restraint on the purple prose, instead of being average, this story could have been excellent.

The Family by Louise Jensen a five-star read that will keep you in the family way. This is another read that I have had recently where the story has been so gripping and complex that you haven’t seen the twists coming, it’s just sublime. Told by three POV Alex, Tilly and Laura could get confusing, but the author has a great way of keeping you involved and clear without giving you the clues to spoil the story, It is very talented writing and I will definitely be looking for more form this author. The way the author has dealt with the complexities of lose, teenage angst and how easily you can fall for deception is just amazing.

Another great story by Louise Jensen. I really enjoyed this book, it kept me reading any spare moment I had and was gripping till the end. The story was so much more than I was expecting, it was darker than the description had me believe but that just added to the enjoyment.
This author is consistently brilliant and the plots are always clever and intriguing with well written characters and unexpected twists. Brilliant stuff and highly recommended.

* MAKE YOURSELF A CUPPA, SIT AND GET COMFY BECAYSE ONCE YOU START READJNG YOU WONT STOP UNTIL THE END *

An outstanding novel showcasing vulnerability, grief, deception, tragedy, psychology and that whole underlying question:
'Are we born good or bad?'

Louise Jenson has touched brilliantly on the subject of death/suicide/murder in this book, so well that you dont find any answers until the very end.

What I thought at first was a predictable story completely blew me away.. I was totally wrong with every assumption.

Set within a 'community' of like minded people, the two main female characters Tilly & Laura somehow find themselves trapped within the confines of the farm, questioning life in general but both concealing secrets.

Each character alone have their own secrets and scars to bare. I must admit that a couple if characters are more filler characters and the story wouldn't have suffered without them.

Super fast paced and jam packed with twists and turns you will not be able to put this down.

Massive thank you to netgalley and HQ for the ARC.

The Family is such a brilliant read that kept me guessing throughout .It is fast paced and full of unexpected twists .Laura and her teenage daughter Tilly have been left devastated after the accidental death of Husband and Father Gavan. Struggling to financially survive because the Insurance Company seem reluctant to pay out Laura meets Saffron who persuades Laura that Alex who seems to be a Cult Leader will be able to help her with free legal advice .Alex runs an organic farm which houses a small commune of people .Laura and Tilly are offered a home and then everything spirals downhill .The story is told from the views of Alex ,Tilly and Laura which I like as I feel you get more of the story that way .Everyone has secrets and tells lies I particularly liked the ending as it was so unexpected ..Many thanks to the Publisher the Author and NetGalley for my preview copy in return for an honest review .

As expected from this wonderful author , plenty of twists and turns , gripping from start to finish , plausible characters and fabulous storyline .

This is a really great read. Engaging throughout, with an intriguing plotline. But wait until the end - wow - everything comes together and I can only read in awe. Fab.

The story starts in shocking fashion, describing a horrifying shooting. Who is involved and what has happened that leads to this terrifying event? Told mainly from the perspective of mother and daughter, Laura and Tilly as their seemingly normal lives spiral out of control after the death of Laura’s husband Gavan. As Laura’s business fails amid fears she will lose her home and also her remaining family turn their backs she is only too accepting of a strangers offer of help. They start their new life without money worries on a remote farm as part of a community. Is this the answer to her prayers or the start of a new life from which there is no going back for either her or her daughter? Dark family secrets, misunderstandings and tragedy all make for a thrilling read that has the reader continuously wondering just who to trust.

Rating 3.5 stars

It took me a while to actually get into this book but I did enjoy it more than I thought I would. There were definitely some twists that I didn't see coming, but there were some which I managed to work out. The differing POV's were interesting and added to the suspense of the novel. I did find it a little confusing at times, especially at the end, the way Jensen likes to jumble up sentences, I understand it is trying to portray the characters emotions though.

An interesting read!

This starts so well, with Laura (a grieving widow) and her daughter Tilly both reeling following the sudden death of Laura's husband. They are both left bereft and in grave financial difficulties. The mother and daughter tensions are gripping and real and the storyline progresses with elements from each perspective, along with a third person, Alex.

What works well: The dynamics between mother and daughter and the tension that builds as they both try to survive a horrible situation.
There's also the immediate family who have disowned them and the teenage daughter is bereft of family and friends.

What didn't work for me: There was just too much going on that I spent most of the book feeling confused. The 3 character elements became frustrating, as did the occasional welsh words, with no apparent link to anything.

I didn't really care enough about any of the characters and found the premise too far fetched.

I'm very grateful to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to preview this book. However, sorry, it's not for me. A 2* OK read.

When Laura’s husband, Gavan, falls to his death from on a building site she is left as a single mother in financial ruin. Prior to his death Gavan’s construction company was at the centre of a local scandal as a family has claimed the land on which he built their home caused their daughters leukemia and as a result the family (and Laura’s florist) have been ostracised by the local community.

When Saffron comes to her shop selling organic products from a local farm, Laura discloses her troubles and is offered what seems a promising lifeline for her and her daughter, Tilly, to join the community at the farm until she can land back on her feet.

Here we meet the extremely charismatic Alex who is head of the community who welcomes Laura and Tilly with open arms. Things soon start to take a sinister turn and the community are not as happy and carefree as they seem from the outset.

I’ve given the book a rating of 3 stars as the plot has many twists and turns with new revelations revealed until the very last page. I enjoyed the differing narratives in the novel which gave conflicting viewpoints of the same situation, however, the character development was not quite there for me. We know from the beginning that all characters are harbouring secrets, but I felt these were all dragged out throughout the story then all suddenly released at the end. Laura’s character was a weak yet protective mother hen who seemed incapable of making any rational decisions whilst Tilly’s character was too “teenage angst” to be truly believable. Alex’s story was definitely under explored but this helped to pique the readers interest and provided motivation to keep reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Well, this was as twisty and turney (yes, I know that’s not a real world but it serves a purpose) as the Welsh lanes that feature in the story. If you have heard stories of people being inculcated into a cult and thought, I would never fall for that, read this book. This novel describes brilliantly how, when you are at your lowest ebb, a few gentle words of kindness and the offer of a helping hand, can change your world forever.

Laura’s husband, Gavan, has been killed in an accident on a building site. Her florist business is failing; her daughter, Tilly, is unhappy and being bullied at school. Gavan’s brother and wife are distancing themselves from Laura because of claims that Gavan had built houses on contaminated land which caused the illness of one of Tilly’s classmates. The inquest into Gavan’s death is taking too long to conclude; meaning that Laura is unable to claim on his life insurance. She has to accept that she is about to lose everything, including her house. Enter Saffron who is sympathetic and understanding, she offers Laura and Tilly a place to stay at Oak Leaf Farm where organic vegetables are grown and sold by a group of like-minded people.

Laura and Tilly move to the farm where they meet the charismatic Alex, a man, who will have a significant effect on both their lives. As they are drawn deeper into the lives of those living at the farm they become accepting of living life in a different way. Are they safe and supported or are there less than altruistic reasons for their invitation to live there? When Laura decides it is time to leave and Milly refuses to go with her, events become very unsettling.

This is a deftly plotted and very clever read. The description of the farm and the surrounding landscape create a menacing and threatening atmosphere. The difficult relationship between a mother and a teenage daughter is handled really well and is very realistic. The story is told from the points of view of Laura, Tilly and Alex (all of whom have secrets which gradually emerge); this creates different interpretations of the same events: I really liked that. You are encouraged to make assumptions which may or may not be true. The Family is addictive and compelling and you get to learn a little bit of Welsh along the way! Ardderchog! Highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and HQ Stories for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have read all of Louise’s books and find them all enthralling, the family was no different. Although initially confused by the different POV’s I quickly settled into this and found it a great addition to the story. It was interesting to read what each person was thinking and it it defiantly part of what made it so irresistible. I read the whole thing in a couple of hours because I just couldn’t put it down. The plot itself I found strangely intense, the writing was so good it was easy to find yourself imaging the people and the mindset they had which in turns makes you feel a little uncomfortable and glad you wasn’t in there position! Can’t wait for Louise’s next instalment. 4/5

Coincidence
Fate
Destiny
Very twisty psychological thriller.
Saffron is in Laura’s florists trying to get her to sell organic produce from the farm business, Oak Leaf Organics. Laura having just lost her husband suddenly has a panic attack and Saffron offers to take Laura home. Here Laura pours her heart out to this stranger about the possibility she will lose both her florist business and family home due to delays in paying out on her husband’s estate. Saffron offers Laura and daughter Tilly shelter at a local farm where they meet Alex, who is running things for the farmer who is getting on in years. It seem the ideal short-term solution to Laura, who will help out at the farm in exchange for somewhere to stay.
There were some strange goings on at the farm, and the electric fence added to the strangeness for Laura. It seemed all the females staying at the farm put Alex on a pedestal, well he was totally gorgeous so who could blame them if they all fancied him. He was pretty flirtatious with everyone which added to my suspicions.
It was a paranoid read and I was suspicious of everyone and what they were up to, wondering where they fitted in. As the conclusion was reached I never guessed at all. None of my theories turned out to be correct, wrong on every one.
Creeped me out quite a bit, especially the crow!
Thanks to HQ, Harper Collins and NetGalley for the review copy in which I give my honest opinion.

This is a hard book for me to review as I liked the book but I didn’t love it as much as I was expecting to. It starts out with a lot of promise with Laura having difficulties after the sudden death of husband leaving her financially in a mess and her daughter Tilly struggling at school with bullying so with an offer to join a community (cult) it’s seems like a lifeline but all is not as it seems !! Well I love a story about a cult but somehow this just failed to hit the mark for me I found it hard to gel with the characters and as the book progressed I found my interest waning. So the book was ok but perhaps a little bit to far fetched overall but still a 3 star read and I’m sure others will enjoy it more.
My thanks to NetGalley and HQ for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for a free ARC of this book.

The Family brings us the sudden death of a husband. An argument with the inlaws. A widow and her daughter left alone and in financial difficulty. Then enters Saffron and Alex, who offer Laura and Tilly shelter at a local farm turned kind-of-cult. As if things weren't bad enough already, they soon take a turn for the worse.

I love good psychological thrillers with plenty of twists and turns and familial betrayal. Somehow, this book offered all that but failed to fully deliver. Many of the thrilling bits ended up feeling like 'the boy who cried wolf', in that they never ended up being what you'd been led to believe. Read that scenario enough times, and you find yourself not reacting anymore. Add to that lots of typos and miswritten sentences, and the whole thing starts to feel frustrating. As this is an advanced review copy, I have to let a lot of the technical issues go in the hope they will be rectified before publication.

The narrative jumped between Laura and Tilly for the most part, with the odd visit to Alex's head. I didn't find myself connecting with or caring for any of the characters. I never got to know them well enough to invest in them. Everyone remained vague and not all there for me.

Finally, the end was so unsatisfying and left way too open. Also, the sheer number of coincidences felt too far-fetched and unbelieveable. Large parts of the book did keep my interest, however, so this has left me feeling somewhat ambivalent while writing my review.

I've given it two stars, because it wasn't an awful read. Some parts were quite good. On the other hand, I didn't love it either. So, two stars it is (see my review notes below).

***

NOTE ON RATINGS: I consider a 3-star rating a positive review. Picky about which books I give 5 stars to, I reserve this highest rating for the stories I find stunning and which moved me.

5 STARS: IT WAS AMAZING! I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! — Highly Recommended.
4 STARS: I WOULD PULL AN ALL-NIGHTER — Go read this book.
3 STARS: IT WAS GOOD! — An okay read. Didn’t love it. Didn’t hate it.
2 STARS: I MAY HAVE LIKED A FEW THINGS —Lacking in some areas: writing, characterisation, and/or problematic plot lines.
1 STAR: NOT MY CUP OF TEA —Lots of issues with this book.

4.5 stars
Being my first book by the author didn't exactly know what to expect, but this story got me gutted from the first pages and i just couldn't put it down.
As a mother, you'll go to no end to keep your daughter safe when life strikes bad and will do whatever it takes to provide a decent life and a future for her.
Told in 3 povs, this book is full of twists and turns that i didn't see it coming my way even if i really enjoy psychological thrillers, a cast of characters that will keep you guessing what they are thinking or what are their goals at the end and why are they really acting like this.
All this make for a perfect read for me and I'll be looking out for more books by the author as I'm definitely a big fan now.

A truly terrifying, psychological and yet full of love novel
It starts at the end but to be honest after a couple of chapters I had forgotten that, I was so invested in the relationship between Laura and her daughter Tilly.
Like most mother daughter relationships I know it had its ups and downs although Laura had it even tougher after losing her husband ,her business and all her family the only place she had left to go was to a commune outside of town
From here the story has so many different paths and you can't imagine how it will lead them to one conclusion. But that's the art of a good storyteller they can weave their own magnificent web and leave you to untangle it
I think different people who read this book will read a difference in the ending I know who I think lied and kept secrets.