I must admit to being a fan of this almost mixed mode of presentation. That part was done well. As the primary story in the middle of the narrative, we have an interview that Marlow is giving. She’s been a very sought after model and her eccentricities make for engaging gossip, helping drive the interview forward.

In the background, Marlow’s adopted sister Isla is telling her own story from when they were kids and to present day. We know something bad is set to happen, but we see that bad stuff in small doses seems to follow Marlow around.

I wouldn’t call my experience of the book enjoyment, necessarily. The broken relationships and the toxicity of some of them mean that there’s no coming back from things. No one escaped unscathed. While the thriller part of the book works out, the rest of it was too sad for me. This is an entirely personal failing, one that I know many won’t share. Especially if readers are used to these types of books.

The grandmother is the shining jewel through it all. The author’s love for her own definitely came through and I felt a welcome relief whenever Moni was in the picture. The author also doesn’t linger on the race aspect. It comes up in obvious places, but the plot itself doesn’t rest on it.

I would recommend this book to fans of the genre and I would like to read anything else the author might have written/ will write in the future

I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

Becoming Marlow Fin is a deeply emotional and transformative story of self-discovery and the complexities of identity. The narrative pulls you in with its relatable characters and heartfelt moments. It’s a touching journey that will leave you reflecting on your own path and growth.

This is a gripping and surprising mystery, and even better than the author's debut. The interview excerpts and how it guides the reveals in the story works very well.

Becoming Marlow Fin sounded like the perfect story - a famous person who is all the rage but with shocking secrets that might undo that status. In the end, the story just fell flat with me.

Ellen Won Steil’s Becoming Marlow Fin is a haunting, beautifully woven story that explores the mysteries of memory, family secrets, and the search for truth. Told through the lens of a highly publicized prime-time interview, the novel unspools the life of Marlow Fin, an actress whose fame is rivaled only by the enigma of her past.

The novel alternates between timelines, following young Isla Baek as she discovers a six-year-old Marlow alone in the woods in 1995, and the present-day unraveling of Marlow’s long-buried secrets. Steil’s writing is immersive, drawing readers into Marlow’s complex psychological landscape as she confronts her fractured past. The tension builds gradually, as the pieces of Marlow’s story—her troubled adoption, her complicated relationship with the Baek family, and the tragedy that changed everything—begin to take shape.

While the book excels in atmosphere and emotional depth, some plot twists feel slightly predictable, and the pacing slows in parts. However, the novel’s structure, blending media scrutiny with intimate personal revelations, makes for a compelling read.

Marlow was found abandoned by Isla Baek with no memory of her life before and was eventually adopted by the family. Marlow becomes a famous actress and model and is set to do her first prime time interview. The story starts in the 1980's and continues to the present with Marlow's interview where family secrets are set to come to life. I loved how at times it was written from Isla's perspective and then Marlow's.
This is a gripping tale of family dynamics and how things aren't always what they seem. A few aspects of the plot were not tied up and the ending did shock me, but both left me with more questions. I would have liked a bit information and answers, but overall a very good book!

Becoming Marlow Fin by Ellen Won Steil is a fascinating mystery thriller that delves into the rise of Marlow Fin, from a young girl abandoned and taken in by the Baeks family to becoming a well-known celebrity. The novel is structured across three distinct time periods, weaving the past, 1980s, and present together as the story of Marlow's journey unfolds. The narrative is intriguing, especially for readers who enjoy complex stories told from multiple perspectives.

The story starts with Isla, who narrates the events of Marlow's early life in the first person. Then, the second timeline brings us to the 1980s, and the third timeline shifts to the present, where Marlow is being interviewed about her life. This structure adds depth to the storytelling, allowing the reader to piece together the puzzle of Marlow's transformation into the celebrity she is today. As the plot thickens, the ominous undertones of the mystery become clearer, keeping the reader on edge.

While the premise is solid, I found the pacing to be an issue at times. Some portions of the book felt slow and dragged on, while others were much faster, which disrupted the flow for me. Another major flaw was the lack of motivation behind the crimes in the story. For me, one of the most important aspects of a mystery or thriller is understanding the “why” behind the actions. The absence of clear motivations behind the criminal activities affected the believability of the plot, leaving me with lingering questions that were never fully answered.

That said, I do appreciate the way the author explored heavy themes, particularly around Marlow's growth and the consequences of her upbringing. The twists, particularly the one that I didn’t see coming, added an element of surprise and kept me engaged even when the pacing slowed down.

Overall, Becoming Marlow Fin is an enjoyable read, particularly for fans of mystery thrillers that offer a glimpse into the rise of a public figure. However, it could have benefited from a tighter plot and clearer motivations for the actions of its characters. Despite these drawbacks, it's a thought-provoking novel that showcases the author's ability to tackle complex themes.

Fantastic read. I was hooked and this was a quick read for me. Hard to find any criticism! I look forward to more!

This is marketed as a thriller but I thought it had additional layers that thrillers often fail to achieve. I loved the amazing writing and the storyline and this one pleasantly surprised me. The only thing that I found a bit off was the pacing; at times it felt too fast and at other times it felt too slow.

Five stars. Obsessed.

Becoming Marlow Fin is a captivating, multi-layered novel that kept me engrossed from start to finish. Ellen Won Steil masterfully weaves together multiple timelines, creating an intoxicating story rich in mystery, secrets, and family drama.

The story revolves around Marlow Fin, a famous actress with a past shrouded in secrecy. From her mysterious appearance as an abandoned child in the woods to her rise as a Hollywood star, Marlow's journey is both fascinating and heartbreaking. The multiple timelines work brilliantly, offering tantalizing glimpses into different periods of Marlow's life – much of it told through the eyes of her sister, Isla – and gradually revealing the shocking truths behind her enigmatic persona.

I was especially transfixed by the sections featuring Marlow's prime-time interview. These segments added a sense of immediacy and tension to the narrative, as we witness Marlow finally sharing her story with the world. The interview scenes are expertly crafted, building suspense and delivering revelations that had me gasping out loud.

The author's exploration of family secrets, the impact of trauma, and the lengths people go to in the name of love is both thought-provoking and emotionally resonant. The characters are complex and well-developed, each harboring their own secrets and motivations.

Becoming Marlow Fin is a page-turner that combines the best elements of a psychological thriller with deep, character-driven drama. It's a story that will stay with you long after you've turned the last page, leaving you pondering the nature of identity, family, and the power of truth.

If you enjoy novels with intricate plots, compelling characters, and surprising twists, I highly recommend picking up Becoming Marlow Fin. It's a riveting read that will keep you guessing until the very end!

Even though this is classified as a thriller, I did not feel like it was a thriller. But I did enjoy the story. I went back and forth between audio and ebook. I preferred the audio. With all the different perspectives and the interview it was easier to keep up with everything.

Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an advance copy in exchange for a honest review.

<i>Becoming Marlow Fin</i> had all of the makings for a great mystery thriller. The book starts with Isla seeing a girl, Marlow, in the woods during a stormy night and her family takes her in. They end up giving her a home when her real family cannot be found. Spooky, intriguing and so wild. Especially because the little girl becomes the IT Girl surrounded by fame, addiction and potentially murder.
The book has multiple POVs and timeframes so that the reader gets pieces of the puzzle in random order. Marlow has famously never given an interview on her past until now.
Everything about this book was great expect for the actual storyline. While I figured out most of the mystery, the twist had me surprised but the ending was abrupt. I felt like I needed more to close things up in my mind. I finished the book with a tad bit of frustration which is probably evident in my review.

I was immediately intrigued by the premise of this story and while I found it a little slow to start, it was definitely worth the time to read. Ellen Won Steil's writing was sharp and she wove together the timelines very well. The interview format worked really well to help keep everything straight as I was reading. I'll definitely be on the lookout for more books from this author.

This is a really intriguing premise, starlet Marlow Fin has a secret backstory - she was found as a non verbal child in the woods and taken in by a family who raised her as their own. When the world finds out who she really is, will all her riches come crashing down?

Sadly this didn't keep me engaged, there were some really slow sections that I struggled with and it ended up as a DNF for me.

Becoming Marlow Fin is an engaging coming-of-age story with heart, but it occasionally feels a bit predictable. The novel follows the protagonist, Marlow Fin, as they navigate personal growth, identity, and family dynamics. While the themes of self-discovery and transformation are relatable, the story doesn’t stray far from well-worn paths in this genre.

Marlow is a likable and well-developed character, and their journey is filled with moments of reflection and challenge. However, some of the supporting characters feel underutilized, and the plot moves in a fairly linear fashion, without many unexpected twists. The writing is solid, and there are moments of genuine emotional resonance, but the pacing can be slow at times, with certain plot points feeling drawn out.

For readers who enjoy character-driven stories about finding oneself, Becoming Marlow Fin offers a pleasant and introspective read. While it may not break new ground in its genre, it succeeds as a heartfelt story of personal evolution, even if it doesn't leave a lasting impression.

I enjoyed Becoming Marlow Fin. It was full of drama, intrigue, and twists.

Isla and Marlow were great main characters, they were both likable, interesting and complex.
Marlow become a lot less likable further into the story though.

I felt like it started well, lagged badly in the middle, but had a strong finish. I struggled with Marlow's reasoning for the things she did. They didn't really make sense to me.

Overall, it was a solid read.

3 stars from me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Netgalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Ellen Won Steil for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Got a copy for my library since my e-reader was on the outs for a bit: This book surprised me I was expecting chick lit fiction and got a bit of mystery as well. I enjoyed where the story took me and would recommend it to any reader and mystery genre. This was a fast read that I enjoyed very much.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

Becoming Marlow Fin is an atmospheric thriller that begins with a couple taking in a child 'lost" in the woods, who is initially non-communicative.

I read this story a second time and I dropped a star from my initial review, because In short this is the story of a family being selfless enough to take in a daughter who is basically Satanic spawn who grows up and destroys the life of almost everyone whose orbit she is near. A truly EVIL individual who only loves herself (she has a BOTTOMLESS love for herself) with Z-E-R-O redemptive qualities.

Until next time, dear readers, stay safe in the (truly) loving arms of your family members!

This is my first book by this author, and I found her writing incredible. I am honestly surprised by the mixed reviews. The story was captivating with dark family secrets you can't put back in the closet. In a time of social media, this is the perfect story because behind that seemly perfect life there are flaws. We all have a story that few know about, how far would we go to keep it quiet?

Marlow is famous for her beauty, but behind that fame is mystery that not even she knows. In 1995 Isla Baek finds an abandoned girl in the woods near her family's lake cabin. With no memory of where she came from or how she got there, Marlow is soon adopted by the Baeks. From the outside world her life looks like any other young Midwest girl. But all that comes crashing down when Marlow is finally ready to tell the real story of her and how she came to be Marlow.

This story thrilling ride of family drama you will not want to put down.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for copy of the book for my honest review.

I was really drawn to the premise with this book and this author delivered something overall pretty great. There was a lot of complexity to the story and there was a lot of back and forth between characters and time period that brought the past to life and made sense of the present. There were some pacing issues throughout that kind of held this book back at places, however they also helped develop the characters a little more acutely so I felt that it was a bit of a toss up. The script was a great element in this book and created a really interesting extra character/voice that helped move the plot along. This was really unique and interesting. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley.