When you meet your partner’s parents, you expect some nerves, but in Meet the Parents by Emily Shiner, those nerves quickly turn into a chilling sense of danger. From the moment Gina steps into the Whitlock family’s secluded home, it’s clear that everyone is hiding something—and those secrets might just turn deadly.

I had the opportunity to read an Advanced Reader Copy of this book, and while it took a little time to get going with some repetitive parts early on, the ending really delivered! The twist was so unexpected and exciting that it made the whole read worthwhile. If you're in the mood for a book with a great payoff, I’d definitely recommend this one.

Thank you #Netgalley for the advanced copy!

Owen takes his new girlfriend, Gina, to visit his parents for the first time. Dynamics are tense as we quickly learn that Owen's mother, Marta, is not excited about her son prioritizing someone over her. But yet here they are, each with their own secret plans and looking out for their families. This story focuses on one long weekend at the parents home where Gina and Marta compete for Owen's attention all while moving their plans forward and in turn blocking each other from finding out too much. Were interactions staged, planned, who to trust, who was really there? This one shocked me all the way through the epilogue.

WOW - I finished this book in 24 hours, I just couldn't put it down! As each chapter finished it made me want to continue, needing to find out what was happening next. Cliffhangers and plot twists galore.

The characters in the book are truly unique and unlike any others I've read before. I've not read many psychological thrillers but if this book is a true representation of the genre then I'm hooked!

Marta and Grant are seemingly wonderful and very quickly turn out to be the nightmare in-laws-to-be. Gina navigates a weekend with them with a huge ulterior motive. Not only this, Marta and Grant know more about Gina then they are letting on. Poor Owen, the boyfriend is stuck in the middle, but does he play a part in this too?

I thoroughly enjoyed the writing style, the plot, the twists and turns and the ending of this book. A real gem!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

A great intense thriller with an incredible ending! The last line in the book was really unexpected, a great final twist — I really enjoyed this!
Emily’s writing style was somewhat different in this book though. She’s usually very easy-breezy. This is something I love about her and that I’ve mentioned several times before. However, this time she dragged the story a bit more than usual and inserted a lot more details. I didn’t necessarily like the change, but I suppose some people might.
I highly recommend it. I loved Gina!

Another brilliant, pacy and tense thriller from Emily Shiner - I loved it!

Owen takes his girlfriend, Gina, to meet his parents for the first time, His parents, Marta and Grant, already know who Gina is though and have a plan to get rid of her. Gina, on the other hand, has her own agenda, initially just using Owen to get to his parents to seek revenge for something that happened in the past, she didn’t plan on falling in love with him.. What ensues is like a cat and mouse game on steroids!

Manipulation, lies and deception. It’s every man (or woman) for themselves and each of them is determined to get their way, thinking they are one step ahead of the others - or are they?

The suspense was insane! I couldn’t stop reading as the author cleverly drip-fed the events of Gina’s past between the present day events and there were some real shockers in there. As the action intensified, it was clear that not everyone would make it out alive, Which love is the strongest? That between parent and child, or a couple who have chosen to spend the rest of their lives together? Just wait and see… and that final twist? OMG!

5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Emily Shiner and Bookouture, for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Great thriller that I read in 2 days! Couldn’t put it down it wasn’t the most crazy twist I’ve ever read - but it was good and I enjoyed the book..

I have read Emily Shiner before. This one was a little different. It is more mystery than suspense. So if you love a good cozy mystery this is the book for you.

Oh my gosh! Emily Shiner knocks another one right out of the park! I absolutely devoured this book. Intensely fascinating characters that kept me flipping pages long past my bedtime. Truly on the edge of my seat for this roller coaster ride, never knowing who to trust and who to run from. So much creepy tension and unlocked family secrets. Don’t let this gem pass you by.
Thank you NetGalley, Emily Shiner and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This is another fabulous domestic thriller by Emily Shiner. I couldn’t put it down after I started reading it and quickly drawn into the plot. The ending is deliciously far fetched but hugely enjoyable.

Well, I have never been more thankful to have the in laws that I had. I loved them to pieces (probably more than I loved their son). These parents take the cake for toxic and horrible people. This was a page turner as you race through waiting to see what horrors will be uncovered. And there are plenty of them. These people are all pretty darn awful, and ait was a total guilty pleasure to read their story.

Ohh what a gripping thriller this was I didn’t know who was to be trusted and who not to trust absolutely fantastic book. It was such a fast paced thriller with plenty of twists and turns. I loved the writing style and how well developed the characters were written. I will definitely be recommending this fantastic thriller to anyone who loves a thriller. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my advanced copy.

Thank you NetGalley for an early copy of this book! I really enjoyed this read. I finished it in less than 24 hours! One of the things I really enjoyed about this book was the alternating perspectives between Gina and Marta. Occasionally it flashed back to Gina’s childhood which was deeply important to the story line. The author did not lay out all the details of the main character’s past all at once and did a nice job leaving me full of suspense waiting for the next bit of information. The interactions between characters are believable and chilling which added to the suspense of the book. This book keeps you wondering “what happens next”! I didn’t know who to trust. If you want to read about the shocking depths people will go to protect their loved ones, this is a good choice for you.

Emily Shiner's "Meet the Parents" is a gripping psychological thriller that masterfully blends suspense, intrigue, and a chilling tale of revenge. The novel introduces us to Gina, a woman with a dark past and a meticulously crafted plan. Ever since witnessing a murder in her childhood, Gina has been consumed by thoughts of vengeance. Her elaborate plot takes a decisive turn when she purposefully meets Dr. Owen Whitlock at the hospital and begins playing the role of his devoted girlfriend. However, as she gets to know Owen, Gina finds herself unexpectedly falling for his charms.

The story reaches a climax as Gina prepares to meet Owen’s parents at their isolated, grandiose home. This meeting is not just a social formality but a critical juncture in Gina’s quest for retribution. She is fully aware of the sinister secrets that Owen's family is desperately hiding, and she is determined to ensure that they never uncover her true identity.

Shiner’s novel is a tour de force in psychological manipulation and suspense. The characters are intricately developed, each one harboring their own secrets and motivations. Gina is a particularly fascinating protagonist—her blend of vulnerability and cold calculation makes her both relatable and terrifying. The tension between her growing feelings for Owen and her unwavering commitment to her revenge plot adds a compelling layer of complexity to the narrative.

The secluded setting of Owen’s family home adds to the atmosphere of dread and anticipation. Shiner’s descriptive writing brings the location to life, making the reader feel the isolation and foreboding that surrounds the estate. The pacing is impeccable, with each chapter revealing just enough to keep the reader hooked while gradually building up to the explosive climax.

One of the standout aspects of "Meet the Parents" is Shiner’s ability to weave a story that is both deeply personal and universally engaging. The themes of love, betrayal, and revenge are explored with nuance and depth, making the reader question the moral boundaries of the characters and, by extension, their own.

In conclusion, "Meet the Parents" is a psychological thriller that will captivate readers from beginning to end. Emily Shiner has crafted a novel that is as thought-provoking as it is entertaining, For those who love a good thriller with a complex protagonist and a twisty plot, this book is a must-read.

Definitely a fast read with no idea who is good and who is bad. And maybe it's that no one is good??? All characters are pretty unlikeable which makes for a good read when you don't know who will make it to the end. The twist at the end was pretty good and one I had thought about earlier in the book but let go. I was enthralled by this one- a quick read. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Well this was interesting and a real page turner I didn't know who was good and who was going to do the deed. It kept me guessing right to the end, I just had to keep reading. It is just what you need for a lazy summer day. Oh yes you totally have to suspend belief and sometimes these are just brilliant and what you need - a great old fashioned airport thriller.

A gripping tale of family secrets and twisted loyalties. This book is a rollercoaster ride from start to finish. The author masterfully builds suspense as Gina navigates the treacherous waters of her boyfriend's family. With every page, the tension escalates, leaving you breathless. A must-read for fans of psychological thrillers.

Yet another fantastic book fr0m this author. When her successful boyfriend takes Gina home to meet his parents for the first time she is on edge, Owen doesn't seem to notice that his mother has taken an instant dislike to Gina, is she just jealous or is there something more to it.
Gina already knew just who his parents were, especially his father but did they know who she was and this them being nice was all an act.
I couldn't put this book down it was that good. Look forward to reading many `more from this author.

I love a good thriller and this one delivers. The story takes place over a couple days. The 2 pov have you guessing who might be guilty and the twist at the end is chef's kiss.

Wow! This book really pulled me and kept me wanting more.
The characters were something else though.. Marta was legit creepy not just because of her story but her relationship with Owen was just weird, she has such an obsession with him that felt off.
Gina had such a sad story but so determined, I really enjoyed reading her POVs. I really wish we were able to see a glimpse into Grant's POV, just to see more of him.

This story had such a great twist and I had no idea it was coming!

Thank you to the Author, Publisher & NetGalley for allowing me to read an Advanced Reader Copy of MEET THE PARENTS in return for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

After a member of Gina’s (a child at the time) family has been murdered in front of her. She sets out on revenge alongside her cousin.

Gina met Owen, they went to visit Owens parents for a weekend. Marta & Grant where not best pleased to meet Gina and neither was Gina at all pleased to meet them.

The story takes you on a journey and is set in 2 Characters perspective allowing you into the thoughts of Gina & Marta over a weekend.

The story line was good although it did take until very near the end for a KILLER Twist. The author has done amazingly well with the 2 Characters first person perspective and that is written very well - as if you were actually in the MC’s heads and the ending is what made it worth it.

At times I felt that the story would end how it did however I was never certain and as the book continued I ended up moving past the ending and it did end up being a huge shock with the way it does eventually plan out.

I personally did find this hard to follow sometimes and was I think it was just because it was quite a slow read until I started reaching the end. It took me a lot longer than I anticipated to get through and I will admit I am now left with so many answers and also I just feel like the ending should have been 100% obvious from the end.

Clearly the authors writing techniques well and truly tricked me. I definitely will say that this book is worth a read as normally I do love this sort of book. There just was too much build up and I feel it was dragged out a lot longer than it should have.

I do say the ending, although I did have suspicions, shocked me to my core. I really was not expecting it to end the way it did and actually has led to me really enjoying this book.

Give this book a go as this review is just my opinion!
I would like to hear what everyone does think of this!

I feel like I need to read more of the authors books because I do think I’d enjoy them however this one just wasn’t an absolute favourite of mine.

Psychological thriller for sure!!