Them Bones - To The Grave Duet, Book 1 by A. Atkins and narrated by Jessie Elwyn is a delectable beginning to a new series; dark, gritty and emotive, appealing to each and every one of my GenX reading sensibilities. The character develeopment and relationship development between Shane and Laney was frankly a work of art in the school of slow-burn, each and every character being relatable on some level. Oh yes, thi is going on the list to be on the look-out for Book 2!

Thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, A. Atkins and Jessie Elwyn for the ALC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

It’s a bit of a slow book.

Laneys younger brother Dustin helps out a homeless kid and soon Shane is part of the family with Laneys mom never being home and her older brother, Cary, being in and out. She is falling for Shane and Shane for Laney. But there is a problem. Laney is too young. The out of the blue Cary comes home and refuses to leave pushing Shane out of the house. Time passes and Dustin keeps in contact with Shane. But Shane tries to see Laney when he can without Cary finding out.

One night Cary’s lackeys tries to have his way with Laney and she kills him. But her older brother takes the fall for her.

Unfortunately, I was unable to begin reading [Book Title] due to technical difficulties with the platform I was using. While I can't comment on the plot, characters, or writing style, I'm disappointed that I couldn't even start this book.
I hope to have another opportunity to read [Book Title] in the future.

Very good narration and great story.
Highly recommend to everyone wohot love sad and lovable stories.

Binged this book so fast! So dark and emotional. Incredibly well written, characters very well rounded.

This book was super angsty and I am for sure going to be on the lookout for book two in this duet after listening to that audiobook!

Them Bones by A. Atkins is a binge worthy and deeply emotional story. This was dark, gritty, and unsettling which I really enjoyed. This is a coming of age story full of unique and well written characters. I was honestly blown away by how real these characters felt. The multiple povs was amazing and really showed off a lot of character growth. The audiobook was narrated perfectly and it added so much more emotion to the story. Without giving away much about the plot, I'll just suggest you read this if you're looking for angst, forbidden love, and a gritty coming of age story.

Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to A. Atkins, Victory Editng NetGalley Co-op, and NetGalley for an audio eARC of Them Bones.

A 90's grunge, dark-ish romance retelling of Romeo & Juliet? Sign. Me. The. F*ck. UP!

I was entirely enthralled with this book from the get go. The varying perspectives were a little hard to follow at first, but after we get into Shane and Laney's story, the pieces being to fall into place. Shane is a homeless teenager who is offered refuge in Laney's house. Throughout the next year, we learn their story and how try as they may to stay away from each other, the pull together is too strong to ignore.

I could not stop listening to this story. I loved the perfectly imperfect characters all around. The author did an amazing job illustrating the innate pull of all the characters to one another and I adored the little found family they made for themselves. This made me equally as angry when Laney's brother and mom would reappear and screw things up.

I also really enjoyed the random side perspectives the author threw into the story. We occasionally get the perspective from a side character and, while not always integral to the story, these quick snippets helped to illustrate the scenes and show how others perceived certain situations. It shed and extra light on the story and helps the reader develop a more well rounded understanding as the scenes unfold.

I cannot wait for book 2! 4.5./5 stars rounded up.

I really enjoyed this Audiobook. It was gritty, addictive and the narration was fantastic. This book covers so many topics and gives so much emotion, I literally felt every feeling! It made me excited for my commute to work so I could listen to it more. Also being set in the 90’s was just perfect, so much nostalgia.

The ending has left me craving the next instalment.

I’ll start by saying that Them Bones has some very heavy themes including underage (teen) substance use, abuse and explicit but consensual sëx scenes. Check content warnings before diving in.

I thought Them Bones was really well written. I found that I couldn’t stop listening and was eager to see how all of the intertwining POVs would come together and wrap up. Each character was so complicated and broken, but so well-crafted and will have your heart breaking for them as your celebrate their wins and struggles. Fair warning though that this does end on a cliffhanger.

The narrator did a great job with Lainey’s POV, however, I think the audio could have benefitted from at least a second male narrator to bring those POVs to live. With just the single narrator and more than four different perspectives weighing in, the audio was at times challenging to follow.

Thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op and A. Atkins for an early listening copy. These are my honest thoughts.

White Oleander meets The Women meets the grit of Razorblade Tears.

Them Bones… do not sleep on this one! An absolute bombshell of a debut novel.

While I’m not generally a lover of with 2+ POVs Atkins did a phenomenal job of utilizing this method. Each character had a purpose to move the story along and the short interjections of minor characters POVs were absolutely necessary.

This book is pure 90’s nostalgia. As someone who remembers them well (was only like a decade ago right?) I was totally pulled back into the era. I could see everything play out like a movie in my mind.

Gritty and uncomfortable at times, Them Bones paints a picture of two characters brought together seemingly by fate. The push and pull between them was brilliant and created tension that left me as frustrated as they were at times. They belong together but there are so many obstacles in their way, both legal and personal ones.

The narration by Jessie Elwyn was spectacular and I’ll happily listen to anything she narrates. The PERFECT voice for this book.

I’ll be waiting impatiently for book 2 now which I will no doubt devour the minute it’s available.




This book deals with several incredibly dark and/or disturbing themes so if you are someone who requires content warnings, please seek them out.

Thank you Victory Editing and NetGalley for providing me with the copy of this book!
First I would like to say, that describing it as mystery-thriller is very misleading (the reason why I asked for a copy). There are not more than 2-3 percent of the book that have those elements and it is at the very end.
So about the actual plot. It should be called "Them bon#rs" instead. It is 80% horny teens, and the sexual things they do to each other, 10% drug abuse and 10% anger and punches.
Maybe for other readers it will be a good read, but for me unfortunatelly was not.

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to listen to this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Parts of this book I absolutely struggled with (addiction, abuse, drug use in underage, sibling... attraction), but I couldn't stop listening and truly enjoyed the overall story.

🎧 Audiobook Review

Them Bones (To The Grave Duet 1) by A. Atkins
Narrated by Jessie Elwyn
Provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op
Published 11th July 2024
Available on audio, Kindle; paperbacks coming soon!

When the audio of Them Bones started, I thought I knew what I was getting: a tale of young love against the odds. How right, yet how wrong was I? This book is so much more than that.

Sofa surfing Shane (17) meets close siblings Dustin (11) and Laney (14) and the trio bond quickly over their shared tough lives and easy way of communicating. Each character springs to life with the combination of Atkins' words and Elwyn's narration; each is believable, has a distinct voice, and makes their personality felt, even with words unspoken. They grew larger than life inside my mind.

The author's attention to detail and foreshadowing are outstanding. The more sensitive aspects of the story are dealt with delicately, whilst narration of the spicier scenes feels intimate and completely appropriate for the characters, in the circumstances.

You really cannot help but take Dustin, Shane, and Laney to your heart. There are a range of other characters to get to know along the way, but no spoilers from me on that! Atkins' clever writing style pulled me in immediately, and I was absolutely absorbed by this spellbinding story.
Oh...the ending! I'm pleased there is a book 2, because I need to know what happens; I hope we don't have too long to wait!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to A. Atkins and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ALC; this is my honest review.

Them Bones is a gritty, slow-burn romance that unfolds over several years in the late nineties. Laney Hawton, burdened with caring for her younger brother Dustin due to her unreliable mother, meets Shane Mathers, a man perpetually between couches. Their chemistry is undeniable, but fate plays a cruel hand.

Pros:
Raw Emotions: Atkins masterfully captures the intensity of first love, making the reader feel every ache and longing.
Nostalgia: Set in the nineties, the book evokes memories of that era, adding depth to the story.
Realistic Characters: Laney and Shane are flawed, relatable, and utterly human.

Cons:
Pacing: While the slow burn builds tension, some readers might find it too leisurely.
Cliffhanger: The ending leaves us hanging, craving more—a testament to the book’s power.

Overall, Them Bones is a poignant journey of love, sacrifice, and timing.

WHOA! This book was super nutty but in the best way possible! I couldn't stop listening to it so I basically just did nothing but listen for hours! Definitely some trigger worthy stuff for those who are triggered by incest, underage sex, different types of abuse, drugs but man it was good! Great narrator!

5 stars!

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced reader copy!

Publish date: 07/10/2024

Finally I’m getting my review up! HOLY CRAP!! This audiobook…omg this audiobook and story was soooo good. I was hitting ALL the feels, nostalgic energy, slow burn angst, and tension! I don’t think I’ve ever been so emotionally invested into characters like I was during this listen. Dustin, Laney, and Shane had a crap hand dealt to them and my disgust and frustration with Carey and the mom….ugh. A. Atkin sure knows how to write a horrible villain. I was so immersed in the audio that I completely blanked on it being set up as a murder mystery from the very beginning…so my was gagged and played with the ending.
Shout out to diana for recommending, A. Atkins and NetGalley for allowing me to listen!!

I listened to this as an audiobook ARC. I wasn't sure what I expected, but it definitely wasn't what I heard- and that's not bad. This book is engaging and emotionally charged. Each chapter is from a different character's perspective, so the whole book felt like a roller coaster of empathy and intrigue brought on by the vast amount of character viewpoints. Because it involves the "forbidden" intimate love story of two teenagers I struggled listening to the very detailed descriptions of their sexual relationship at times. Still, every other detail made me want more. I was consumed by the trauma of Laney Hawton (age 15) and her brother's struggles growing up without proper guidance in the revolving door of a "home" that was filled with addiction, Laney's abuse from her drug-dealing brother, and an absentee parent who popped in and out only when it suited her. When Shane coincidently steps into the picture after developing a friendship with Laney's younger brother her entire world is turned upside down by his presence; however, Shane fears all that Laney is but longs to protect her and her brother from all the wickedness they are forced to endure. This whole story is heavy and full of heartache. The ending threw me for a loop and left me wanting so much more!

Thank you to A. Atkins and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing me with this audio ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This is my first NetGalley audio ARC approval, and I'm hoping to be given the opportunity to review so many more!

This audio was perfection from start to finish.
The narration from Jessie Elwyn is absolutely stellar. The story features multiple POV’s, a wide cast of characters, and even newspaper articles - and she nailed every single of one of them. Her voice is amazing and I can’t t wait to get my hands (ears) on more of her work.

Then there’s the story. The writing and the journey of these people completely blew me away. This will live rent-free in my head for the rest of my life.
Shane and Laney take us on a roller coaster of a ride that I would let wreck me again and again. Add in a heavy dose of awesome musical references, Buffy (shut up take my money), 90’s grunge, and angsty tension for DAYS.
Or perhaps more accurately - years?

A more perfect book does not exist. Fight me.

*Them Bones* by A. Atkins is a dark and deeply emotional novel that captures the essence of the cozy '90s era. The story unfolds with a haunting intensity, blending nostalgia with a powerful emotional depth. Atkins' writing pulls you into a world that feels both familiar and unsettling, making this a compelling read for those who appreciate a mix of warmth and darkness.