Things Don't Break On Their Own is a deliciously twisty debut from Sarah Easter Collins with an assured style and a well crafted plot. The set up is deceptively simple - a group of friends at a dinner party find themselves talking about memory and its fallibility, but through the use of several timelines and varying point of view characters the narrative expands into a complicated and character driven story that will have the reader questioning who to believe. Among the core characters are Robyn and Willa, who were friends in school before becoming something more. Willa's teenage years were marred by the disappearance of her younger sister Laika, who has never been found and the trauma of that resonates to this day as she still thinks she sees Laika in random places , train station platforms etc. When she is introduced to another guest at the dinner party she is taken aback by her resemblance to her sister, but tries to convince herself that it could not possibly be Laika after all these years.
I tore through this book in a day, completely captivated by the characters and the story as it unfolded and twisted back on itself, several times including revelations that I genuinely did not see coming. The pacing of these revelations is exceptional and I found myself turning pages compulsively in a desperate attempt to figure out the truth. There is definitely a darker side to this tale, with several descriptions of physical abuse of Willa, Laika and their mother by their father, so readers who find domestic violence triggering may want to take note. On a side note I was particularly moved by the side story of Laika and an elderly neighbour, the depiction of elder financial abuse by family members was unexpected but impactful.
This is one of the most impressive debuts I have read in quite a while and I eagerly await more from the author.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

I've been in a bit of a reading slump lately and haven't read anything that's really urged me to keep turning the pages, therefore haven't really been reading a lot at all. Until I picked up Things Don't Break on Their Own that is!

I'll be honest and say I thought this was a thriller before I read it. Sometimes it can be disappointing when a book I think is a thriller turns out not to be, but in this case I actually think the story and characters were a lot stronger than in a lot of missing person stories I've read.

The book follows Robyn and Willa throughout a period of their lives. Starting as students and working their way through adulthood, they were both so interesting to read about. Willa's sister Laika went missing when she was a teenager and the book shows how this has impacted her life. Robyn is a student in the boarding school Willa moves to after Laika's disappearance and ends up becoming close to her.

I adored both Willa and Robyn and could have read so much more about them. The writing was also brilliant and I never wanted to put this book down, it was so engrossing. I loved how bits and pieces were slowly revealed to you that showed reasons behind the decisions and behaviours of the characters.

There is a lot of domestic abuse in this book and at times it was difficult to read. I like my books dark so I did enjoy this aspect of it but it was hard going in places.

This review is becoming very long so I'll wrap it up by encouraging you to read this book and hope you enjoy it as much as I did! You do need to suspend belief slightly but I think in this case it's worth it!

Things Don’t Break On Their Own, by Sarah Easter Collins
Rating: 4/5
Published: 20 Jun 2024
Robyn and Cat are holding a dinner party, and close friends and relatives are invited. All is pleasant until conversations turn to the intricacies of memory and the past. Willa can’t help but think about her sister who disappeared during childhood. She has never been able to accept that Laika is likely dead, and suddenly old ghosts begin to rear their heads. Laika’s fate is slowly revealed, through a series of twists and turns. Each one is beautifully constructed by Collins, and I loved the slow unravelling of the truth. I cannot believe that this is her debut novel either. Such a brilliantly composed story, which captures the emotions of grief, hope, loss and resurrection perfectly.

A good read, and a very well written story, but I went into it expecting a thriller and that's definitely not what I got. Touches on themes of abuse and fractured and dysfunctional families.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

I enjoyed reading this book which is a real page turner. The book is about a young girl, Laika who goes missing. Her mother and sister never give up on her and their lives are coloured by her disappearance. It becomes clear fairly early on in the book that her father is abusive. Her sister Willa is sent to boarding school to avoid the intrusive media. Here she meets Robyn who comes from a warm and loving family in contrast to Willa’s wealthy but cold household. They have a wonderful friendship which becomes a relationship. However, the missing sister is always in the background. Twenty years later, there is a dinner party given by Robyn and her partner Cat. Willa and her unpleasant partner Jamie are invited but who is Claudette? The rest of the book reveals Claudette’s story. A bit far fetched at times but a great read! Thank you Netgalley!

This is definitely not what I was expecting from this book. I was expecting a thriller about a missing teenager, but this is so much more than that. This is a hauntingly beautiful tale of family , friendship and love with some heartbreaking twists. Well written characters that you come to care about.

I enjoyed this read but I struggled though to give it a higher rating. I found myself turning the pages and reading faster and faster towards the end to find out what happened! It was an enjoyable read.

The characters and relationships were inventive and mostly likeable. The plot was interesting. I found it hard however to come to terms with many aspects of the plot where it really stretched plausibility. That was disappointing for me.

The author is to be commended for her writing style and creativity. I would certainly be keen to read more of her books.

Gripping and immersive, THINGS DON’T BREAK ON THEIR OWN is a mixture of things. On the surface, it’s the story of a missing girl and the aftershocks of grief when a family is left with no body to bury and no explanation. It’s also an emotional tale of first love, missed opportunities and the power of family, buried under darker overtones of domestic violence and the so-called ‘happy family’. It’s a lot of things to bring together, but Collins does it well and provides a real page-turner. I don’t think it quite reaches the literary excellence of Notes on an Execution or the foreboding horror of The Push, but it’s a great beach read.

Wow, what an emotional and rollercoaster of a book! This is a story of a missing teenager Laika Martenwood 13, who vanishes about 22 years ago on her way to school, and how her family cope with the situation in particular her sister, Willa! It is told in different character voices and over different timelines. In the present, Robyn and her wife Cat, are preparing to host a supper party for 3 other couples - Willa and Jamie, Nate and Claudette, and Michael and Liv. We learn all is not right in Laika's life and she feels out of place within her family. Throughout the book, we learn how her vanishing affected Willa and the lengths she goes to hunt down her Sister. All the sub plots thread together leading to a surprising conclusion. It is well written and very descriptive. I highly recommend this book.

Interesting, heartbreaking filled with grief and happy times. I loved this book even though at times it was very sad to read. What a different family. Laika was sent to the UK after her mum passed away to live with her sister’s family. Willa was delighted to have a sister and they bonded, Willa looking after Laika as she was thrown into a completely different way of life. The story continues with the girls getting on and then suddenly Laika disappears. She was not found either alive or dead and it played havoc with Willa growing up and led her into a life of drama. The story continues. Robyn and Cat live together with their three children and have a dinner party at which Willa is invited together with her partner and other couples. Robyn and Willa met at university and were very close for a while. Michael, Robyn’s brother came along with a new girlfriend who was a psychiatrist and her speciality was false memories. As the conversation went on Willa realised that maybe her dramas have manifested themselves with the disappearance of Laika – what does she remember, fact or fiction. The story twists between the lives particularly of Willa and Laika and it leaves you feeling so sorry for both of them for different reasons. The story touches on Willa’s mother and brother who were difficult to like for many reasons and shows what money and greed can do to a family. It was easy to follow the story and in some respects was sad when I had finished it. I loved the ending of the story and felt satisfied. A good read indeed

I was not sure I would like this book to begin with but as the characters developed I became far more engaged. The story is told over more than 20 years and from both their perspectives. The title, in retrospect, was so apt! Willa and Laika both suffered throughout their lives - in very different ways but with a common theme of guilt and belief that they had let people down. There were several twists which kept me guessing. There were kind people in Laika's life that balanced the dreadful things in her life. Rounded off too neatly for me, apart from one doubt (no spoiler)!
Would be interested to read more by this author. Three and a half stars for me, rounded to 4 for characterisation.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Sarah Easter Collins/Penguin General UK for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

"Things Don't Break On Their Own" is a fascinating thriller, told from multiple perspectives and through several timelines. While this might sound somewhat convoluted, the author has weaved this complex tale with great skill to ensure that the novel is a roller-coaster ride from start to finish. Detailing family heartbreak, love and grief, this is a tale of survival and how love can eventually win. And one that is guaranteed to stay with you.

This was a good family drama although I hadn't realised I had finished the book as the ending was a bit abrupt

A dinner party lead a group of young people sharing their lives at the table. However everything is not as it seems but eventually the truth will come out

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, found the characters were intriguing however I felt the end was a bit too tidy, this, however does not detract from my recommending this book everyone

With thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for arc in return for an honest review

A mystery read about Willa who sees her sister Laika everywhere after she vanishes on her way to school. Fast forward to 25 years later and at a dinner party secrets are revealed what happened to Laika.
Found it slow going at first but then really got into the story and the characters especially the main character Willa.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Things Don’t Break on Their Own by
Sarah Easter Collins
Published by Penguin
Publication Date 20/6/24

No Spoilers

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A real page-turner, this kept me engrossed throughout. Part mystery/thriller, part domestic drama with plenty of twists this book left me thinking about it way after I’d finished it. Yes, there are a couple of coincidences but isn’t life like that?
Highly recommended, and, I can’t wait to read the next book from this author.

Thanks to the author, publisher and to netgalley for providing me with this advance digital copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

After 14 year old Laika goes missing, her mother and sister don't know how to continue living normally as there is this huge hole that has been smashed into their life. Willa, her older sister goes to live at a boarding school to evade the press and it is there that she meets Robyn, who will become her best friend. Now don't be misguided by the mention of a missing girl, as this book isn't a thriller. First it dissects what happens to a broken family, and the influence of the press and the public. Then we get a taste of different settings, different families who all are somehow related to the disappeared Laika. There is the family life of Robyn, so different of that of Willa, the old neighbor who is slowly losing her memories, the life of Robyn and Cat in their messy but warm house. It feels like all characters are connected like being on a train, and we get glimpses of their life through each carriage.

Not only is it very interesting, and somehow reminiscent of Reservoir 13, but it is also very beautifully written. Especially the depictions of Robyn's childhood home were very heartfelt and warming. The point of view is sometimes very raw, and then sometimes distant and somehow adrift and dreamlike. I loved the writing style and I found it astonishing that it is the author's debut. If there is one small point of critique, it would be about a plothole, or maybe more precisely a incredible coincidence that I just don't see realistically happening. But it is easily forgiven, as it is a small issue in an otherwise very exquisite book. If you are looking for a beautifully written account of different family dynamics, grief and its repercussions, and human condition in general, I would gladly recommend this author.

Thank you NetGalley, Penguin General UK - Fig Tree, Hamish Hamilton, Viking, Penguin Life, Penguin Business and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I truly had no idea what to expect when I started this book - I hadn’t really heard much about it and didn’t read any reviews beforehand, it was just one that drew my eye on Netgalley and there was obviously a reason for that! I love finding gems that you may not have otherwise come across and Things Don’t Break On Their Own is such a brilliant story, I’m so glad I got the opportunity to read it.

The story begins at a dinner party hosted by Robyn and her wife, Cat. Among the handful of attendees is Robyn’s long time best friend Willa and her partner Jamie. It is obvious that there are tensions afoot but it is only as the story travels backwards through various dinner guests’ lives that the reader is clued into the reasons behind them. One of the main sources of uncomfortableness is the subject of Willa’s sister Laika, who has been missing for 20 years, seemingly vanishing into thin air on her journey to school one day.

I think one word to sum up this book is compelling: no matter whose perspective I was reading at the time, I was always intensely focused on what was happening and really eager to discover more about the characters. There were many surprising twists that I didn’t spot heading my way and the mystery element of the plot kept me coming back to the pages at every available opportunity. This is a cracking debut by an author who I’ll absolutely be looking for more work by!

Thank you to Viking & Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. It was complex and surprising with a real sense of true human emotion. The characters were very well drawn, particularly Willa and Laika. I also liked the theme of memory and how unreliable it can be - I thought that was really interesting and the book explores it subtly but well. A really good read. With thanks to the publisher for access to this ARC in return for an honest review.

Really loved this, it’s beautifully written with different narrators and time lines but not in a confusing way. It’s a story of family and love, hope and fear and what to do when it all goes wrong. This is a skilfully crafted mystery come family come love story that kept me engrossed.