4.5 stars rounded up. This was a twisty story with a big surprise ending. The characters were well thought out. None of them were really likeable. The story moved along at a brisk pace. I recommend it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the author and publisher for a free digital ARC of this book. This is my honest and unsolicited review.

I really enjoyed #MeetTheParents. I couldn’t put this fast paced, gripping and suspenseful book down. I was hooked right from the start. Full of betrayal, blackmail, deception, family drama, murder, hidden secrets and lies.
I loved the authors writing style. It’s well written with an interesting storyline, good characters, plenty of twists and an ending you don’t see coming. Just brilliant. The short chapters alternating between now and then and dual POV’s of Marta and Gina add depth and complexity to the story and kept me turning the pages as the tension escalates. I liked how the characters and their emotions felt so real.
Overall, an entertaining unputdownable psychological thriller. Definitely recommend if you enjoy reading this genre.
With thanks to #NetGallery @bookouture for an arc of #MeetTheParents in exchange for a honest review.
I share my review on Goodreads, Amazon and Instagram @allthingsbookswithclaire
Book publishes 28 August 2024.

Meet the Parents by Emily Shiner will have you on the edge of your seat.
This book was so good that I could not put it down! I thought the story was fabulous, filled with unexpected twists and turns. The characters were great and I loved getting to know them.

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.0

I absolutely loved this book, I had no idea where the story was going to go and flew through the book.

Gina was a little girl who watched her aunt be murdered right in front of her. She spends years and years trying to figure out how to get revenge for her aunt. It starts with a trip to her boyfriend’s Owen's parents… and from there… it all changes. Not quite fast paced, but not slow either. An absolutely great read! Thanks to netgalley to allow me to review this book.

Thank you Bookouture for a copy on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
An astute and gripping psychological thriller.
Emily has authored a clever, pleasing and compelling story.
Gina and Owen are happily together.
Before they become engaged, Owen wants Gina to meet his parents.
Grant and Marta are the perfect hosts with secrets galore.
They know more than they are letting on.
Marta does not like Gina and continues to make her uncomfortable.
But Gina has her own agenda and with vengeance in the front of the line only one of the women will have her victory.
Meet The Parents is mysterious, suspenseful and very hooking.
An exciting plot, interesting characters, a nice little twist and an unexpected ending.
Need to read more from Emily and will remedy that soon.
Unravel the secrets and enjoy the wild ride…..

As always with Emily Shiner books I was immediately gripped and could not put it down. This book was so tense and twisty.

Wow! This physiological thriller kept me on the edge of my seat from cover to cover. The book has 2 POVs, Gina and Martha (Gina’s boyfriends mother). It was very easy to flip between characters and their mindset. Gina was a witness to a crime many years ago and is out for revenge. The plot twist at the end had my jaw on the floor.

Thank you to NetGalley and Emily Shiners’ team for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC and give my honest review. I will be looking for more of Emily’s work.

Meet the Parents by Emily Shiner is a very highly recommended, un-put-downable fast-paced psychological thriller.

Owen, 41, is bringing home his girlfriend Gina, 28, to meet his parents, Grant and Marta Whitlock. Their cabin in the woods is actually a mansion on a sprawling estate. Marta immediately is hostile to Gina and Grant has wandering eyes. None of this really matters because they all privately know something about who the other person really is and what they are capable of doing behind their facade. The extent of what they'll do and what they know will be determined. Readers will know from the start only two people are going to survive, but which two is in question.

Meet the Parents is really a compelling, delicious cat-and-mouse page-turner that held my complete attention from start to finish. The narrative follows the present day get together, which is told through the alternating voice of Gina or Marta. Gina's past trauma is told through separate chapters set in the past when she was 8 years-old. The flashback chapters explain Gina's past trauma. The characters of Gina and Marta receive the most development.

This is a twisty psychological thriller right up to the end. The final denouement went a bit over-the-top, but the experience getting there was completely entertaining. Thanks to Bookouture for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The review will be published on Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a fast paced thriller!! Gina was the right amount of devious. The mom kinda weirded me out a little with her obsession of Owen. I thought the ending was ok but then bam twist.

I definitely recommend this book if you're looking for a fast paced thriller.

After experincing a horrific childhood trauma Gina's life is changed forever, and now she is obsessed of making sure she gets her revenge. Owen is the perfect man, he's a doctor, he's handsome, he's sweet.

Owen and Gina havnt been dating long when Owen decides he wants her to meet his parents. Being nervous by agreeing to go with him for the weekend to meet them and being excited to find out a dark truth that has haunted her for over 20 years.
I loved how this book kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. It was very hard to put down and the twist at the end literally had my jaw on the ground! Definitely put this on your to be read list when it comes out 08/27/2024!

Thank you Bookouture publishing, Author Emily Shiner and Netgalley for the early copy of this book!

I got an ARC from NetGalley.

The excitement this book provided was outstanding! The ending caught me entirely off guard. When you think it's wrapping up, the surprise twist at the end adds the perfect touch. An excellent read!

I received an ARC from NetGalley

The roller coaster ride this book took me on was a complete thrill! I was not expecting the ending - complete shock! Just when you thought it was over, the curve ball at the end is the icing on the cake. It was a great read

Wooow this one was so good!! I was hooked from the beginning and couldn't stop reading. The writing style is so fast paced that you can't stop reading and you want to know more! I really had a great time reading this book and can't wait to read more books by this author.

Thanks you NetGalley and Bookouture for this arc.

"Meet the Parents" by Emily Shiner is a masterclass in psychological suspense that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. With expertly crafted characters and a plot full of dark secrets and chilling twists, this book is impossible to put down. The tension between Gina and Owen's overbearing mother, Marta, is palpable, and the stakes grow higher with every page. Who knows what? How much do they know?

Shiner's ability to build suspense and deliver shocking revelations makes this a must-read for fans of thrillers. By the time the final twist was revealed, I was left breathless. Highly recommended!

Thank you Emily Shiner, Bookoture, and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

The plot centers on a seemingly typical scenario—a girlfriend meeting her boyfriend's parents—but with a twist: the family is deeply entwined with Gina's tragic past. This setup paves the way for a story filled with murder, deception, and conspiracy.

The book's creativity and pacing are standout features; the pages seemed to turn themselves as the narrative unfolded more complexities. Just when you think the drama has concluded, the story continues to deliver more surprises. Overall, this was a fantastic read, marked by excellent storytelling and well-crafted character development. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for an engaging and surprising thriller.

✨3 stars✨

This was an extremely fast-paced book and I found myself unable to put it down once I started! I literally read it in one sitting!

I would recommend this book to anyone who’s looking for a quick short thriller. However, I was personally just expecting a bit more from the plot twists as the reveals were a bit anti-climatic, in my opinion. Also, the Mum, Marta, was a complete stereotypical “boy mum” which made me feel uncomfortable as some of her thoughts and dialogue was downright creepy!

I received an ARC from the publishers via NetGalley. Thank you!

First, I want to thank Emily Shiner, Bookouture, and NetGalley for providing me with this book so I can bring you this review.

Ohh it has been a hott minute since I have been able to sync my eyes into a Emily Shiner book!! Ohh let me tell you Meet The Parents was definitely worth the wait!! Emily casted this book with characters with deep dark secrets that made this story ever so twisted. If you are a fan of Emily Shiner like I am, this is a must read!

Emily’s prologue started out intense, detailed, action packed, and attention grabbing. It left you with so many questions that you just had to keep reading on just to find out the answers.

My heart instantly ached for Gina as a young girl witnessed the death of her Aunt. Just as we find out this tragic news in the story Emily flashes back to the night in question and we get to be a fly on the wall and witness it happen. Gina knows who did this to her Aunt….

Ohh how I didn’t care for Marta!! She was Owen’s mother and despised Gina! She would do anything to tear them apart! She totally got under my skin!!

4⭐️ Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of Meet The Parents.

Gina and Owen have been dating for seven weeks when he decides to bring her home to meet his parents Grant and Marta. Upon arriving at a very remote mansion in the woods Gina knows that she has to find the proof that she has been looking for to prove that Owen’s parents have a sinister past. All the while Owen’s parents plan to follow through on their plan of “taking care” of Gina once and for all. But whose plan will prevail?

This book had me hooked from the first page up until the very last page. I really enjoyed the writing style and the dual points of view. I have to say I did not see the ending coming at all!

📖📖 Book Review 📖📖 Would you still believe your relationship was meant to be if a weekend meeting the parents went up in flames? There are a lot of secrets hiding under the surface as Gina prepares to meet Owen’s parents but the extent of what lies underneath is completely unknown. Emily Shiner delivers a thrilling book that certainly gives more questions than answers as the layers unfold. The characters may be a little too well written because I had no idea who to trust but it made the book all the more enjoyable! Meet the Parents is beautifully written and builds in a wonderfully suspenseful arc!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Review will be up on instagram next week and on Amazon on pub date!

Absolutely loved this book! It had me hooked from the first chapter and with all the twists and turns it had ms wondering what could have happened next?!

I honestly can't wait to read more from the author in any future books.