I’ve been sooo in the mood for Ya Mystery or thriller books! After my romance phase during the summer, now I’ve been binging all the thriller and crime stories I could get my hands on and this one fit the bill 100%.

I just flew through the pages, totally engrossed in the story and smiling throughout. I had the best time reading this. (Even though I’m quite stressed right now but the Cousins provided a welcome break from all that)

The book is written in some kind of dual timeline. For the most chapters, we follow one of the three cousins; Milly, Aubrey or Jonah. But we also get chapters from Allisions POV (Milly’s mom) when she was a teenager.
The writing style flows effortlessly and again, I was flying through the book.

I loved the premise of the book; The 4 Story kids being disinherited by their mother and all the explanation they ever got is a letter with one sentence: You know what you did.
This promises lots of family secrets that only wait to be uncovered.

There are lots of different subplots, little twists and turns and whenever you think you know what will happen, something other is uncovered. I loved all these little secrets and how they were revealed.

But most of all I loved the dynamic between Aubrey, Milly and Jonah. They are all very distinct characters, with their own mannerisms and hopes. Their banter is hilarious sometimes and I had to laugh so much from some things Aubrey said (I’d love to quote one, but unfortunately my fav is a big spoiler)

The first meeting between Milly and Jonah was hilarious as well. (I’m just gonna say constipated gnome …)

With each new chapter, I liked the three more and more. Usually, characters like Milly and Jonah, very sassy or really grumpy, are my favs but I loved Aubrey right from the start, too. She is so hopeful and kind, and something in her story just hit a bit too close too home.

“Without Milly here, I can’t inject as much disdain into my words as I want to.
Being sarcastic to Aubrey feels like kicking a puppy”

I also really liked how all three of them grew up in very different ways and how it all affected their life.

The setting on Gul Cove Island is also quite cool. I liked exploring it alongside the characters and meeting all the people who knew their parents from their childhood.

The Cousins was a fun, addictive read from start to finish! I’m definitely gonna check out Karen’s other books because now I’m hooked!
If you haven’t read anything by her yet, I really suggest you do.

“The Story family is seriously messed up.”

The simple truth of that hits me with more surprise than it should. Even though I’ve alsways known my father’s family wasn’t exactly normal, I sued to think there was something … romantic, I guess, about their particular brand of disfuntion. But truth is, my dad and his siblings are all miserably.

So I have to admit I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book as it’s written for an audience that is younger than I am. However, it’s a book that can be read by any age, it’s written in such a way that it just grabbed me and kept me reading. I finished this in one day which is not something that happens often.

I really enjoyed this book, it would appeal to anyone who likes psychological thrillers and mysteries. The story, as the blurb says, revolves around the Story family and the mystery of what happened years ago when their mother disowned them and cut off all contact. Suddenly, one day the grandchildren receive letters inviting them to the family island for the summer but all is not as it seems. The grandchildren are all 17/18 years old and I feel that the book is aimed at that age group but as I’ve said, it can be read by other age groups too. The Story grandchildren are smart and more sensible than their parents seem to give them credit for, and it was good to see their character development through the book. They deal with a variety of situations really well and the relationship between the three of them really makes the story work.

The descriptions of the other characters and the island itself are really well-written and definitely got me involved in the the three main characters and how they were affected by what happened. The plot went in directions that I didn’t expect but it fitted with the story and the backstory that had been developed, which is exactly what you want in a good book.

If you’ve read others by this author, or like me seen the books and wondered about them, then I would definitely recommend this one. It’s a really good read that will keep you coming back for more.

I love Karen McManus and have read all of her previous work, and she is slowly becoming one of my favourite writers of YA mystery and thrillers. So, when I found out about her new book The Cousins I knew I had to get my hands on it. Truth be told, I was rather excited to get stuck into her new thriller and see where it lead.

The Cousins follows Milly, Aubrey and Jonah, three cousins who have been estranged for a long while. Their parents were disowned by their grandmother several years previous and never heard from her again. One day, all three of the cousins receive an invitation to work and spend the summer at their grandmother’s resort. They all decide to go and meet the lady who has been a secret for their entire lives. However, once they get there they soon discover that the secrets their family have been keeping run deep and the three teens are determined to discover what they are before it’s too late.


Well… The Cousins certainly has that mysterious, gripping edge that McManus is known for in her previous novels. I was automatically intrigued by the riddles surrounding the Story family and found myself longing to know more through each chapter I passed. You are brought into this world of wealth, greed and secrecy and you don’t want to leave. You are sucked in, and hooked and I know this is how McManus wanted you to feel.

The story itself runs a bit slower than the stories in previous novels by the author, and it does take time for the plot to build up into something substantial. This did leave me feeling quite worried as to if I was going to enjoy the overall plot, however about halfway through the action kicks in and I was pulled in. I found the way the secrets and mystery surrounding the Story family are revealed to be, well shocking and as someone who usually guesses the conclusion to a thriller, I was surprised to say I didn’t see this certain reveal coming. Also, I just want to mention the setting of Gull Cove added to the intrigue and secretiveness of the plot, and I could just imagine something sinister happening there.

Each cousin had a different personality and I found myself gravitating towards all of them for different reasons. Milly, at first you think she’s the perfect, pretty girl but as you get to know her character more you see a more vulnerable side to her, and that vulnerability ultimately ends up changing her for the better. With Aubrey, we first see her as the sporty girl who just wants to please everyone, all whilst going through a crisis herself. Throughout the story we see her grow with confidence and become the strong young woman she wants to me. Now with Jonah, he was a bit of an enigma at first. I wasn’t sure what path his character was going down. Nevertheless, we start to see growth within him, and come to the end he’s changed into a much better person, less selfish and more willing to listen. I also enjoyed getting to know Allison’s character (Milly’s mum) through flashback scenes woven into the plotline. We get to see how vulnerable Allison was and it somewhat mirrors Milly’s character.

The Cousins was, overall another triumph for McManus. It’s a beguiling, mystifying read that had me addicted with its twists, turns and thrilling agenda.

I received this book from the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

This has a different vibe to McManus’ other books - more family mystery and fewer tense thriller moments. I found it worked pretty well for me, it was an interesting concept! I figured out earlyish what the parents had done (or close enough) but definitely missed a good proportion of the rest.

I really liked the idea of this family drifting apart because the matriarch disowns everyone, and the study in how it affected her children in different ways was fascinating. Milly, Aubrey and Jonah are good views into the world of their parents, and into the current goings on of the island. I also loved getting to meet Archer and see what felt like an honest battle with addiction.

I’d have liked to have seen a little more background on how everything worked out between the two timelines we see, but otherwise I have no complaints! 😂

A very intriguing and addictive read. 4 stars.

The Cousins is one of the best young adult novels I have read in a long time. The perfect amount of suspense mixes with a ton of mystery. Karen McManus is a master storyteller.

I didn’t think I would like any of the cousins from their first introduction. Milly was too pushy and trying too hard to be an adult. Aubrey was a pushover with a lot of trust issues. And Jonah was a sullen brat. But as the story unfolds, I came to love every one of these characters. They were all exactly as I described them. But when you learn more about these kids, you understand the why behind their behavior. And the truth is, it is heartbreaking.

I wasn’t familiar with Kaen McManus’s work when I signed on for this blog tour. But the blurb had me interested from the first, and now I can’t wait to read her other works. McManus spins a tale that is worthy of her bestseller status.

The setting of Gull Cove Island is spectacular. The author captures the beauty in every word. I could feel myself singing along with the folks hanging out at Dunes. Every cue ball shot by Jonah sent a chilling crack through my chest. I can’t get over how much I loved this world, and the mystery was excellent. Each chapter leaking a little more information. Every one ending with a tiny little cliffhanger that made me reluctant to put it down.

I am happy to award The Cousins a full 5 out of 5 stars. Anyone who loves a good mystery with some fun mixed in will love this novel. I recommend it to any young adult fans out there.

I enjoyed this, but it didn't have the usual flair that I'd associate with this author. There were a couple of obvious tropes that might just be my age, but I prefer the style of the previous books.
Hard to review without spoilers, so without giving away any plotting, I would definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys teen thrillers.

My 11+ teen mystery fans will enjoy this, although there is some more YA content it's not central to the plot. I really didn't feel any particular affection for any of the characters in the book but perhaps I'm the wrong demographic!

The Cousins is a story about Milly, Aubrey and Jonah. Three 17-year-old cousins, whose parents were all abruptly disinherited from their family’s fortune years ago – the cause of which still remains a mystery to this day. All parents claim they have no idea. And the only clue they have is the inexplicable letters they all received from their mother when it all went down. Ones that simply read “you know what you did.”

But that’s ancient history so it would seem. When each cousin receives a letter addressed to them from their grandmother inviting them to (work at) her island resort for the summer, their parents all see it as an opportunity to make amends for their mistakes and get their inheritance reinstated. But to truly make amends the cousins will need to figure out what went wrong that fateful day so many years ago… And things are never as simple as they seem.

Prior to reading The Cousins I was already quite familiar with Karen M. McManus’s other literary works. I in particular LOVED One of Us is Lying – I found it fresh, fun, and thrilling! Having not read a mystery/thriller targeted towards Young Adults since I was a teen myself making my way through the Pretty Little Liars series, McManus’s debut novel really re-opened my eyes to the possibilities and reignited my love for the – somewhat niche – YA mystery/thriller genre.

After having already adored two of her previous works – the aforementioned One of Us is Lying and its sequel, One of Us is Next – I had incredibly high hopes for this novel. And wow, even taking into account my (already pretty high!) expectations, The Cousins blew me out of the water!

The Cousins is officially my favorite book by McManus to date (and an absolute 5 star read)! It’s everything a quality mystery/thriller should be: daring, a dash of incredulous, and above all else, entirely gripping until the very last page.

All three of the main characters were both easy to love and also interesting to follow – a feat not always easily achieved. The setting an excellently unique take on a classic trope. And the plot jam packed with so many twists and turns you barely have time to catch your breath! McManus manages to weave a story full of suspense and surprise, unable to predict, and impossible to put down.

If you’re already a fan of Karen M. McManus you should definitely get your hands on a copy of her latest work. And, honestly, even if you weren’t a fan of her previous novels I’d still recommend this one to you… it’s just that good.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Delacorte Press/Penguin Random House, for providing me with an e-ARC of this book. All thoughts are my own.

Every Karen M. McManus book surprises me, and I think by now I should know and expect to enjoy them. I liked and flew through her other books, and The Cousins was no different.

The story follows 3 estranged cousins: Milly, Aubrey and Jonah, who are invited to spend a summer at their grandmother's resort. The catch is, she disowned her own children 24 years ago and has not kept in contact with either of them since. So, why is she reaching out now?

I was pretty hooked on the premise from the get go. I really enjoy family mysteries, the more twisted ones, the better, so I was looking forward to reading it - although I kept my expectations low, because YA mysteries tend to be too predictable for me. The story really took off from the first few chapters (as it's told from alternating POVs of the 3 cousins), though it didn't capture me fully until the halfway point.
I enjoyed all three of the cousins' perspectives and how different they and their circumstances were. Once the flashbacks were introduced, I started caring a lot more about the past events, though, and I wish the story focused more on the Story children, and not the grandkids. Truth be told, the mystery worked either way.

I think Karen M. McManus is really good at pacing her stories and giving the readers just enough info to keep them interested and engaged. Like with her other books, I didn't once get bored and want to put the book down to take a break. I had fun reading it start to finish, although it wasn't perfect by any means.

I could've done without the romance, but I say it every time. I know parts of it put things in motion when it comes to plot, but I think I'd enjoy it more if literally anything else happened.
Although I didn't fully figure out where the story was going, I had a pretty good inkling how it'll end, and the finale didn't surprise me. It's not always detrimental for me to be shocked by the reveal to enjoy a story, as long as the rest of the book makes up for it, and I'll happily admit it did. I think as far as YA mysteries go, this one turned out pretty impressive.

Next time Karen M. McManus comes out with another book, I'll try not to doubt her. She's proven to write continuously fun and engaging stories.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

As per usual, McManus knocks it out of the park with her new novel. Expertly plotted, the narrative drives you towards the conclusion relentlessly - if you could put it down you're a better person than I! The Cousins is slightly less convoluted than One Of Us Is Lying but no less enjoyable. One of my favourite authors.

Karen M. McManus has kept her spot on my list of favorite YA mystery/thriller authors! Though The Cousins wasn’t my favorite book of hers, she has this amazing ability to keep me hooked on anything she writes.

One of the things that I thought was really great about this book was that I found each of the three cousins to not only be likable, but also very relatable. While they are classic teenagers with many individual flaws, I developed a soft spot in my heart for each of them. I don’t feel too hot about any of the side characters (and I still want to punch several of them in the face) but having likable/relatable main characters is maybe the most important thing to me as a reader.

The main thing that I was disappointed with was how predictable I found the book. It is definitely filled with many twists and turns, but I saw almost all of them coming beforehand so I didn’t get that same gut-punch that other reviewers received. I was also constantly getting confused between the Story brothers because all of their names begin with the letter “A”. Even now that I’ve finished the book, I still couldn’t tell you who is who off the top of my head.

Regardless, The Cousins is a book that can be enjoyed by YA and adult readers alike and I’m definitely going to be keeping my eye out for more of Karen M. McManus’ works.

Thank you to The Write Reads and Karen M. McManus for providing me with this free eARC in exchange for an honest review!

My Thoughts: firstly, let me say I’ve been trying to write this on and off all day, due to a bereavement in the family it’s not been easy to get my thoughts in order BUT I owe it to everyone involved in the blog tour and the book to give it my best shot…

We follow the Story’s a family that looks perfect on the outside, a family that looks like they have all they need, but as we all know looks can be deceiving, they’re all hiding their own secrets whilst hoping their don’t come out!

The story follows cousins, Jonah, Milly and Aubrey – cousins should be the first best friends that any person should have but because of a family disagreement in 1996 they barely know eachother!!

They’re invited to their grandmothers lavish resort for the summer & thats where they start to realise that not everything they’ve been told is true!

With the help of a few people along the way, can they get to the bottom of it and uncover the REAL truth of the ‘Story Legacy’ before its too late?

This book was incredible, it was fast paced and had me hooked, I devoured the story and it provided me with the distraction I needed at the time so a thank you Karen!

🐧❤️

I was really excited about The Cousins and was so happy when I received the ARC for this tour. Like all of the other books by this author, once I picked it up I just couldn't put it down. I had to know how this book would continue. Karen M. McManus gave us another book filled with twists and turns that kept you on the edge of your seat.

The Cousins is told through 3 POVs (the cousins Milly, Aubrey and Jonah) and we get a few chapters that are flashbacks in 1996 that give us some idea of what was going on back then. The Story cousins are basically called for the summer to meet their grandmother non of their parents have contact with after certain events 24 years ago. It's clear from the start that their summer won't go as planned and things aren't as they seem.

I loved that we got to know all three of the cousins. Even though their family didn't seem really pleasant, I liked all three of these characters. They all had things they were dealing with, but I felt like this summer together helped them in ways none of them imagined. The Cousins definitely shows us that families can be complicated.

Karen M. McManus knows how to add some elements of surprise that make you doubt everything you thought you knew and her writing keeps me glued to the story. This small town is the perfect place for secrets and betrayal and we definitely get our fill of all of these elements. I didn't see all of the twists coming (which I love, because I tend to figure things out) and that was exciting. That being said, I think all piled together some of these twists may have been a little far-fetched? Don't get me wrong, because I did enjoy the book, it just felt a bit much when all added together.

If you're a big fan of books with family dynamics, secrets, mysteries, friendships, small towns and maybe a little romance, I definitely recommend The Cousins!

I was super excited to read this, and I wasn’t disappointed! I knew this was going to be a great mystery, and I was hooked from the very beginning.

When Milly, Aubrey and Jonah meet their grandmother for the first time in eighteen years, it is clear that something isn’t quite right. Despite her invitation, Mildred Story clearly didn’t know her grandchildren were joining her for the summer.

That’s our first mystery. Who sent the letters? And what happened all those years ago to cause Mildred to disown all her children?

This is the mission the cousins must solve, and they soon discover that some secrets should be kept as that.

I think my favourite character is Milly. She is so feisty and stubborn. She is relatable in so many ways.

Get ready for a whirlwind of twists and turns. I didn’t see a lot of it coming. Brilliant read!

I read this book as part of the blog tour hosted by Dave @ The WriteReads. Special thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 4.5 stars!

If there’s one thing that I can rely on McManus for it’s to completely absorb me in her YA mysteries. I’ve read all but one of her books now and I can safely say that she’s a favourite and auto-buy author because her stories are always so entertaining and The Cousins is no different. This might actually be my favourite of her books so far!

Although this is still YA, it does differ from her other books as it’s not set in a school but rather at a luxurious rich people resort. We also get more perspectives in this story as we follow our three main characters plus we get flashbacks every few chapters from one of the parental figures, and all of this really helped give us the full picture. The central theme is about family and that’s fitting as the Story family motto was: ‘family first, always’, and wow… These people were a truly messed up bunch! 😂 The Cousins provides the kind of ridiculously-rich family drama that is a steaming train wreck but one that you also can’t look away from! The adults were probably the worst part of this story because they were the hottest of hot and selfish messes.

It’s so hard to talk about the characters without giving anything away but basically I loved Milly, Aubrey and Jonah! They each had such distinct voices and personalities, and although they were so different from each other in many respects, they balanced each other out quite well. I really enjoyed how they supported each other through the craziness they endured over the summer and how their connection grows was really believable!

- Milly was the “popular girl” of the three. She’s got confidence for days and some serious attitude (but in the best way). She’s feisty, headstrong and cunning. I thought I’d have an issue with her “rich girl” problems but I was pleasantly surprised by her and I absolutely loved her relationship with Aubrey.

- Aubrey was the total opposite of Milly. She’s sporty, shy and out of the three, had the most character development. I loved seeing her come out of her shell and find that backbone to stand up for herself because she was truly the sweetest and deserved so much more–definitely more than the family she had!

- Jonah was… not what I expected but I really liked him! He was an interesting character and I felt angry with and for him and his family. I loved where the story took him and the cousins!

That said, while I liked the characters, I wish that they had been given a bit more depth. It didn’t affect my reading but I was so intrigued by them and simply wanted to know more about them!

There’s really something about the way McManus writes that always quickly reels me in. While she brings you on a surprising and mysterious ride, the writing is so easy to read and I love that she keeps it simple so as not to distract from what’s happening. That doesn’t mean that the many twists in the story weren’t surprising though because I did exclaim aloud quite a few times while reading, with plenty of “OMFG NO!“ moments 😂 The secrets and mystery went in a completely different direction to what I expected and I had a good shocked laugh with all the surprises. It was just so much fun!

TL;DR: If you’re a fan of McManus’ books or if you’re looking for an easy-to-read and speed through YA mystery that keeps you guessing until the very end, I would definitely recommend The Cousins! You’re in for a delightfully messy rich family drama full of crazy secrets and it makes for one fun ride 😉

3.5 stars.

Being my first Karen McManus novel, 'The Cousins' is a book filled with twists and turns, the uncovering of secrets and an overall entertaining plotline. Though it did take me some time to get into this novel, the last 30 per cent is where much of the major elements of the plot begin to unfold or explode onto the scene, should I say.

The novel is told from four different perspectives with the three cousins written in first person. The premise centers and unfolds around a mystery and is told through two timelines. It is a novel about the Story family wherein a remote island is both their fortress and empire. To say that the Story family is rich would be an understatement, but it is the fact that in the late 1990s, the matriarch of the family kicked her four children out of the house and did not speak to them ever again. Until...the grandchildren receieved a letter from the matriach herself, Mildred Story. Thus begins the true focus of the story. Or the Story family, I should say.

The grandchildren, Milly, Aubrey and Jonah, are to send the summer at the family resort and are interested in finding out the family mystery. The setting-building of suspense and intrigue was one quite well which was inevitably portrayed when the cousins came together and realised immediately that something was not right.

I would not categorise this novel as predictable but I wouldn't consider it as an entirely unique plotline. Some aspects of the twists frustrated me as the way that the secrets or the twist was covered up or concealed were done in the exact same way two or three times. It did take me a while to fully get engaged with the story and the ending felt similar and not all that unique, which links to what I previously stated. Though the plot was nuanced and the way that McManus was able to weave such a large cast of characters in a way that was rich and engaging, there were times where I was bored in waiting for something more to happen. Although it did get more fast-paced in the last 30 per cent of the novel.

Overall, a well thought-out and mulit-layered yound adult thriller which will engage readers. It is a fun and entertaining read which I recommend to readers who enjoy stories such as 'The Cousins'.

The Cousins was my first Karen M. McManus and it will not be the last. I love the way we get to see Milly, Aubrey, and Jonah’s point of view throughout the whole book. It allows us to get a real inside look into what’s going on and understand it through these very different characters.

The writing also takes the reader by the hand and leads us into this dark mysterious world without ever making us feel like we’re in too deep until we are in the weeds and OMG THIS CHARACTER DID IT AND OMG IS SOMEONE GOING TO DIE?? Like I knew some shit was coming, but I was not prepared for exactly how messed up it was going to be.

And I loved every second of it.

Let’s go into the characters!

Milly: At first, I didn’t think I was going to fall in love with Milly because of the affluent life she leads, but I was totally wrong. I really enjoyed how much she took control of the situation when she needed to, but was also allowed to be vulnerable and confused. We love a multidimensional character.

Aubrey: MY FAVE!! Like the insecure girl who wants to punch her dad in the face wasn’t going to be my favorite character lol. While she was a bit timid at first, she really grew into herself as the story went on and lord have mercy, I was worried about her at the end.

Jonah: Jonah can be described in one word: SECRETS. He has a bucketful of them, but he’s not the best at keeping them considering Milly and Aubrey figure out one of his secrets a day or two after they meet him. Oops.

I also really liked Uncle Archer. I have a soft spot for an addict who is trying his best to stay on the straight and narrow, but is still having a hard time. He really proves himself over the course of the story and especially at the end.

Ok…let’s talk about THE grandmother. No spoilers, but she is creepy af. Do. Not. Trust. Her. She is mysterious and secretive and manipulative. But that’s not even the most shocking thing about her.

The mystery (or mysteries) in The Cousins is so mult-faceted and layered. I’m always in awe of mystery writers because…how do they figure out these mysteries in their head?? And how do they keep things hidden from the reader so we don’t know what’s going to happen after a couple of chapters? They’re all so creative and masterful and Karen M. McManus is no exception.

The Cousins is a fun, thrilling ride with an ending that will have you’re mouth hanging open because…how did you not think of that before?? If you love mysteries or YA mysteries especially, you need to read The Cousins. I’m giving it 4 out of 5 stars.

I am a huge fan of Karen M. McManus’ YA thrillers, so I was delighted when I was invited on to the WriteReads blog tour for her latest. This is a complete departure from the characters of her other books, so you can pick this one up, having not read any of her others.

Milly, Aubrey and Jonah Story are cousins who haven’t seen each other for years and none of them have ever met their shared grandmother, who cut their parents off years before. Until they each receive a letter inviting them to work at their grandmother’s island resort with no explanation. The teens embark on a crazy, mysterious summer, full of secrets darker than any of them ever expected.

McManus sure likes stock characters! Her debut One Of Us Is Lying featured the five archetypal teenagers that are featured in The Breakfast Club and here we are again, dealing with a jock, nerd, princess and clown. The real secrets lie within the cousins’ parents’ generation and the chapters that flash back 25 years hold a multitude of clues as to how they all managed to become disinherited. I was trying to put the pieces together but there was always something missing, so yes, the twists continued to shake me!

The resort itself is a classic setting for a mystery to play out. I’m sure there are plenty of secrets that it still hasn’t given up, due to its constantly revolving population and the ease that it is to completely disappear there. Like the Story family themselves, Gull Cove Island oozes carefully-crafted perfection on the outside but houses a multitude of messes once you start digging.

We hear from all three of the cousins and they each have their own complex lives and relationships with their parents. Milly has a tricky relationship with her mother Allison, Aubrey has very little reason to respect her father Adam and Jonah has very little relationship at all with Anders. However, all of them are curious about why their parents were exiled from the family and why their grandmother has never shown any interest in meeting her grandchildren. They all possess a degree of courage that I think shows up their passive parents.

All four of the Story siblings have clearly grown into adults who struggle with the idea of family. They all seemingly resent or hold a great deal of disappointment towards their children. So much so that I knew that something majorly traumatic must have happened involving all of them. The pieces very slowly started to come together and they formed a pretty horrific picture.

The twists continued to slap me in the face and I honestly didn’t see a single one of them coming. McManus is so good at expertly laying out all the evidence while still concealing the truth. The final stretch of the book dealt with one final major curveball that took everything in a direction that I could never have predicted and I literally couldn’t put it down.

The Cousins tells the crazy story of a family who have harboured an enormous dark secret for decades. Full of haunted characters, plenty of intrigue and mysteries that keep rearing their heads, it’s the perfect, fast-paced YA thriller for the winter season.

really enjoyed this book and all of the twists and turns that came along throughout the book as the plot and secrets unravelled.

The characters were created masterfully and it made the story so much more interesting, especially seeing that it was partly character driven as it was focused around some rather intriguing family dynamics. I really liked that we got to know more about Allison throughout the book when she was younger and how the family used to be before they were all cut off.

The plot was complicated and full of little secrets and big ones that came part at the perfect time and were all tied up nicely by the end. I hope that there is a sequel to this as there are somethings that I really want to see play out.

The writing too was amazing and made me just devour the story, it was absolutely incredible and I can't wait to read more by Karen M. McManus !

I was kindly given this book by the publisher in exchange for an hones review on a blog tour.

Milly, Aubrey, and Jonah Story are cousins, but they barely know each other. Their grandmother, Mildred Story, rich but reclusive, disinherited their parents decades ago and cut off all ties with them. However, they receive a letter asking them to work in their grandmother's resort over the summer. Not going is not an option. Plus, they are curious. What happened all those years ago that Mildred cut off all ties with her children?

The Cousins by Karen M. McManus is an addictive young-adult mystery.

It is thrilling, fast-paced, and kept me glued till the last page. The plot is thick with suspense. After 60%, I struggled to put it down.

Fortunately, McManus does not sacrifice character development that happens in many thrillers. There are a lot of characters of interest here, and she fleshes out each one of them incredibly well. The story is told from the perspectives of several characters; however, the transition was smooth. I had no difficulty in figuring out whose voice it was even without seeing the chapter heading.

If you have read enough thrillers, you can guess how the climax would pan out once the author delivers the final piece of the puzzle. However, McManus took me by surprise. She delivers another clever twist at the climax.

I have not read any of McManus's previous works, but after reading The Cousins, I am checking them out. I could praise the book even more, but I will stop here. Now, buy the book, and start reading it. You can thank me later.