Member Reviews
This was a fast paced quick read, I did enjoy the story and would recommend it to other people but I found it repetitive in parts and didn’t really connect or enjoy the characters.
The Forever Home by Sally Royer-Derr was a superb psychological thriller from start to finish full of brilliant twists and turns throughout that had me turning my pages over quickly to find out what happens next.
A fresh new start. Only If they live to enjoy it…......WoW!!!
Aimee opens the white screen door and step into their shiny new home, all she can do is smile.......A fresh start.......At last!. Starting a new life with her new Husband Archie in this historic farmhouse is her dream come true.
This is where they will grow old together, and where Aimee can finally forget about her past. Or is it?
Everything is Bliss............then Aimee notices the light is left on in the attic, then, music playing when no one is home.
A faded photograph of Aimee on a hazy summer day long ago, is delivered in an unmarked envelope.
All these years Aimee has been running and looking over her shoulder......He has finally found her!!!
My new home, our safe haven, has been threatened and it's not safe for me to be here.
The question now is, what am I going to do to protect it?
WoW..........This book was excellent and a great holiday read. I LOVED IT
Sally Royer-Derr’s "The Forever Home" offers a gripping thriller packed with unsettling secrets, creeping suspense, and psychological tension that will keep readers on edge. At first glance, the story seems to follow a familiar path: a new life, a new home, and the promise of a peaceful future. But as with all great thrillers, nothing is quite as it seems.
The story centers on a woman who has finally found what seems like the perfect life with her new husband, Archie. Together, they move into a charming, historic farmhouse—the kind of place that promises a fresh start and the safety to leave behind a troubled past. But for the protagonist, that dream quickly unravels. Strange occurrences begin to plague the couple, from lights left on in the attic to eerie music playing in an empty house. Things take a darker turn when an unmarked envelope arrives, containing a photograph of her from years ago—someone knows her secret, and they’ve found her.
Royer-Derr expertly weaves a plot full of twists and escalating tension as the protagonist realizes her haven has been compromised. As she races to protect her new life, readers are drawn into a web of lies, hidden pasts, and dangerous revelations. The farmhouse, once a symbol of hope and stability, becomes a place where paranoia and fear creep in, creating a haunting atmosphere that perfectly complements the plot’s rising stakes.
Character development is key in this thriller. The protagonist is a complex figure—a woman who is resilient yet vulnerable, trying to escape a shadowy past while building a future with her seemingly perfect husband. As the pressure mounts and her safety is threatened, her inner strength is tested, making her a compelling character to follow. Archie, too, is an enigma, and readers are left wondering if he’s the stable, loving partner he appears to be or if he’s hiding secrets of his own.
Fans of domestic thrillers will be captivated by "The Forever Home". The slow unraveling of the protagonist’s life, the creeping sense of dread, and the tension between her past and present make this a page-turner from start to finish. Royer-Derr’s skillful plotting ensures that just when readers think they know what’s happening, another twist changes everything, keeping the suspense alive.
For those who love stories where home is not the sanctuary it appears to be, and where the past refuses to stay buried, "The Forever Home" will hit all the right notes. With its blend of psychological depth, eerie atmosphere, and shocking revelations, this novel is a must-read for thriller enthusiasts looking for a chilling and unforgettable ride.
Amiee and her new husband, Archie are starting a new life in an old farmhouse, and are looking forward to moving in and starting their small business. However, on the day they move in, they are told that their realtor was murdered whilst showing another house in the town, but the couple tries to put this out of their minds, and get on with their new life.
Everything seems perfect. However, Aimee can't help but reflect on her earlier life in a commune, when she was known as 'Sunny' - a life that Archie knows nothing about. A life with the man of her dreams who aptly was named 'Dream'. A life that she is running from.
Then, odd things start to happen around her, and she is begining to wonder if she is losing her mind, or if 'Dream' has finally found her.
This is a great psychological thriller, and with an ending that will both shock and surprise you, this is a must read!
This book started off well but then I found it to be unrealistic and repetitive. I didnt really care much for the characters to be honest.
This book takes place in two timelines, 2023 and 2016.
In 2023, Amy and Archie are newlyweds ready to embark on their new lives together. After a quick engagement and wedding they are not ones to waste time starting anew while seemingly leaving their veiled past behind them. Amy has found a perfect home but when a local woman is murdered it sets the town on edge. Despite this grave news, Archie and Amy have the appearance that they are the perfect couple and desperately in love. However, they are both hiding separate dark pasts.
In 2016 Dream and Sunny also seem to have an ordained match all while living in a cult-like community. They also have dark pasts that seem to bubble at the surface of their happy ending. Somehow when one of their members ends up dead it dissolves Dream and Sunny’s hope for the future.
How are these two time lines connected and how is it that the past replicates the future?
Overall rating 3/5
I was intrigued by the concept of dual timelines which lead to the ultimate conclusion to the book. However, I was so utterly confused by the cult-like past timeline it made it hard to follow its relevance to the present timeline. I would have understood if the cult had more of a relevance to the story, however it did not. It just seemed to be an unnecessary distraction that led nowhere. Also the drama started with strange incidents occurring around the house which I thought played into the title of the book. But these situations soon ended leaving me to wonder why this was even called The Forever Home when little had to do with the actual house. I did like the twists at the end and how they played into each character’s development.
*Thank you to Sally Royer-Derr, Storm Publishing, and Netgalley for the ARC copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.
Aimee and Archie have just bought a new house on a beautiful farm where they are about to start their life together , it could not be any more perfect !! .... until strange things keep happening to Aimee , things that know one should know about but her , and she can't figure out who or what is haunting her from her past !! A great read and I will be looking for more by this author.
It was a great fast paced read. Aimee and Archie are starting their new lives in a new home and town. When weird things start happening that bring Aimee back to her younger years living in a commune. She ran away from that life and now it’s back to haunt her.
Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy it that much. I didn't like the chapters about the commune at all, which meant I couldn't really get into the story. The ending was very surprising, I must say. All in all, I give the book about 2.5 stars.
Run, don't walk and add this psychological thriller to your TBR! This book is absolutely addicting. I was sucked in from page one. The author did a fantastic job holding my attention with this book. I really loved the storyline and the twists just added to the story. This is the first book I've read from this author and I can't wait to read more of her books in the future!
This was an easy, fast and fun light thriller. Perfect for in between the bigger reads. I just felt like it was missing on the thrills and suspense to keep me fully invested. It was also a little over the top so you do need to suspend disbelief in order to enjoy this one fully.
A nice light thriller to enjoy between my heavier books. I enjoyed the storyline and the dynamics between the characters. The two timelines were easy to follow.
I will read more from this author
Honestly, this was a really fun thriller! I found some things so surprising, whilst others I was able to figure out earlier on in the book. All the characters were intricately created with their own backstories and plots. What a weird cult they all lived in, but it was written incredibly well that even though it was insane, you couldn’t stop reading! I found this novel so easy to get through, it wasn’t too gruesome and had so many different twists to keep you on the edge of your seat!
The premise was so fun and the ending was a nice surprise! I also really enjoyed the epilogue to clear up some loose ends. Definitely recommend if you enjoy quick and easy, yet interesting, thrillers! Thank you to the publisher and NetGallery for a chance to review this book!
Menacing..
A fresh new beginning descends into a hellish reality in this dual timeline psychological suspense. With a tension fuelled narrative and a creeping sense of menace the reader is pulled into a strange and bizarre tale of mysterious happenings. An intriguing tale with a slow burn plot, a well imagined backdrop and a credible cast of characters.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, expertly written and the twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat. I look forward to reading more from this author
I really love cult like books and in this story we have some pretty groovy characters and some really big secrets. I feel the build up was perfect and the twist was too. I could see this carrying on with all the characters we met.
This is such a gripping thriller. There are twists all along the way, but you will never guess the truth? It will keep a hold on you till the last word.
This is an easy, quick read for when you’re craving a light thriller. I loved the flashbacks and the mystery of how the past connected to the present. I loved the wild ending. Those are always my favorite. Especially when they catch me by surprise, like this one did. My only complaint is I wish there was more suspense and build up. Maybe hide who Aimee really was in the flashbacks. Overall at 3.5 and would recommend.
I LOVED THIS BOOK. The descriptions were beautiful throughout! The first chapter really grabbed me as the reader and I couldn’t put it down! The chapters are short, which helps a lot with bouncing between the different POVs and timeline.
The Forever Home by Sally Royer-Derr is a psychological thriller filled with twists and turns immersed in two time lines that will keep you guessing and leave you utterly shocked.
Aimee and Archie move from the city to the countryside to start a new life in their forever home, a farmhouse where they can cultivate their own food and grow old together, but as soon as they arrive at their new home they are left to question the safety of their new town upon finding out their realtor was murdered. Shortly after, an old photograph shows up tying her to her hidden past Aimee's future is threatened. Who has found her and what do they know?
This fast paced dual time lines will keep you guessing to the end, if you love a good, twisty, psychological thriller this one is a solid read.
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The Forever Home revolves around a husband and wife who move to a new home. The wife has goals of opening her own store featuring her own vegetable, jams and eggs produced on her land. The timing on this was a bit much to believe. Fruits and veggies don't grow as fast in reality.
When strange things start to happen, Aimee is sure they have something to do with her past. But who could be doing these things and why?
I loved the two timelines and both kept me interested.
A little too much detail about mundane things like what kind of robe Aimee was wearing made it drag a little bit.
All in all a good story. Could have been even better with a little fine tuning.
Thanks to netgalley and Storm Publishing for the arc.