📚: The Days Between by Robin Morris
⭐️: 3.5/5 (rounding up on #goodreads)

Andrew and Amy Williams. Seemingly perfect in their Florida beachfront home, successful careers, and happy marriage. But the reality is that it’s more like a pressure cooker. And when Andrew inadvertently runs into his college ex, Kathryn, and also finds he fathered a now-19 year old son that he never knew about — that pressure cooker is prime to explode with all the secrets from the past that have gone unsaid.

In a nutshell - imagine This Is Us or A Million Little Things (ugh, how I loved that show) in book form, and you get The Days Between. Family and friendship drama that spans across decades and generations. Characters who are so human they border on unlikeable (with a few firmly in the unlikable category). And an ending where worlds collide in a heartaching way.

While portions of this book felt like it lagged — I was able to easily put this down and pick it back up for the front 2/3rds, its ending came together in a way that tore at me. And for that, a rounded up score.

Big thanks to Lake Union Publishing via @netgalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. The Days Between is out now!

This was a well written, solid debut that I enjoyed! There was plenty of drama to hold my interest. I enjoyed these well developed characters and the struggles that they faced. I loved the Florida setting too. There are some trigger warnings that include suicide, infertility, to name a few. There was enough suspense to keep the pages turning, but some parts felt a little slow. Still a good debut and would definitely check out this author in the future.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This book sucks you in from page 1 and continues through the end. A gripping page turner with a lot of drama and surprises. Andrew and his wife are having marital complications when he runs into an old girlfriend and finds out he has a teenage son. Kathyrn has spent her life keeping secrets and people at a distance. When the two reconnect, they find it hard to rekindle the past, and question how to protect their futures. Alternating points of view and timelines, this book unfolds with emotions, conflicts and ever changing relationships. Secrets, drama and lots of twists and turns. The story is well written, the characters are real, flawed and incredibly well developed. Definitely pick this one up if you like going on an emotional rollercoaster and being kept on the edge of your seat!

Thank you Netgalley for my advanced reader copy

Talk about an intense and messy ride!
Wow, did I mention this book is messy?
Family drama, lots of secrets and lies, complicated, gripping, intense and addictive; beleive me when I tell you, it was hard to put the book down.

Thank you Suzy Approved Book Tours for this tour invite.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 releases today November 19, 2024.

Whilst the writing was good in this, it just wasn't great for me. There was too many POVs and the plot just didn't have a lot going on, and I really struggled to push through.

The Days Between is a captivating, domestic thriller telling the story of how a web of long kept dark secrets from 20 years in the past begin to unravel in a devastating way for not only those involved, but everyone around them as well.

Kathryn, Andrew, and Nick have a complicated past together, and the choices made when those connections ended 20 years ago have lasting impacts that are brought to light in an explosive and damaging way now that those connections are remade.

In a multilayered dual timeline between past and present, and several POVs packed with tension, suspense, lies, betrayal, drama, and scandal Robin Morris delivers a gripping page turner I struggled to put down.
The three main characters were engaging and kept the story moving right along at a great pace, but the side characters were just as strong and added even more to the riveting plot.
The shocking culmination of everyone’s storylines coming together was something I never would have predicted, and the way everyone begins to recover from the fallout was well done.

Thank you to the author and Lake Union Publishing for this gifted copy via NetGalley. I was hooked from the first few pages and raced my way through this dramatic, emotional read.

Loved this book! All the drama kept me captivated from start to end! Also, being a Florida native myself, I can always immediately connect with books set in this great state. I enjoyed getting to know each character and the story behind each life!

A book filled with so much drama and messiness!

The Days Between opens with Kathryn in a coffee shop as she runs into her ex-boyfriend, Andrew, from over 20 years ago. Well, cue the drama and messiness because she has actively avoided him all this time because unbeknownst to him, he is the father of her son. Andrew sees a picture of the son on Kathryn’s phone, and he sees the resemblance immediately. This starts to unravel two decades worth of secrets while dealing with current issues. This book switches points of view and time between these characters and others who each have their own set of problems, secrets, and issues they are working through. This led to a layered complexity that kept me reading and wanting to know what happens next. 4.5 stars rounded up. I will definitely read any future books by this author and thought it was a standout book!

Thank you to Lake Union Press, Robin Morris, and NetGalley for allowing me to read this novel in exchange for an honest review.

The Days Between by Robin Morris was a compelling and emotional debut.
The characters are wonderfully written but definitely complicated.
Morris writes an extraordinarily moving and gripping drama, creating a captivating read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me in exchange for my honest review.

Unfortunately, this book was a miss for me. I really tried to get into this book but I had a hard time keeping up with the story. I think I may try the audiobook and see if it holds my attention as this book normally does sound like something I may enjoy.

‘The Days Between’ by Robin Morris rather perplexed me. I kept expecting one of the characters to be evil or there to be a major secret that would destroy lives and wreak havoc on the other characters. Alas it was not meant to be. The secrets weren’t all that bad or devastating and the evil character was a mother who was just mentioned in a few sections. This is a character study and a pretty good one although some of the characters really irked me. For supposedly being intelligent, they didn’t demonstrate that much.

Andrew and his wife Amy have almost everything but cannot conceive a child. After moving back to his hometown in Florida, one day Andrew sees Kathryn, his ex girlfriend, and the love of his life who ran away without even a goodbye - and he realizes that the 20 year old son Max she’s FaceTiming with has his features. Kathryn has spent her life cleaning up Max’s messes and ignoring his drug and alcohol problems. Now that Andrew and Kathryn have reunited, Andrew wants to meet his son but is not ready to tell Amy about him (since she is trying so hard to have a child herself). There are many people who could be hurt from all of the lies that have been told in the past, and that are being told now.

There was a lot going on in this book but it still drew me in immediately. While I didn’t actually like any of the characters (they were all pretty flawed) I was still invested in their storylines (and there were quite a few of them). I had both the audio and the ebook and found the audio completely engrossing. While I may not remember this book in a few months I definitely enjoyed it while I was reading it.

3.75

Thank you to Lake Union and NetGalley for the ARC to review

📚 PRE-PUBLICATION BOOK REVIEW 📚

The Days Between By Robin Morris
Publication Date: November 19, 2024
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

📚MY REVIEW:

The Days Between was a gripping and emotional read that included multiple storylines between friends and family members whose lives were interwoven together through beautiful character arcs and intense interactions.

This book reminded me of the greatest television dramas, where we get to see the connections between the characters - joyful and dramatic - as well as each individual character's struggles and happiness too. The way the story was told was reminiscent of shows like Brothers & Sisters, Melrose Place, This Is Us... That sort-of vibe.

The storyline comes to us in multiple timelines and is told from the perspectives of several main characters: Andrew, Amy, Kathryn, Nick, Harper, Max, and Emmy. There is a palpable emotional tension throughout this book, with secrets, betrayals, histories, grudges, and more secrets taking center stage in the pages. The lives of these characters are messy and complicated, but the way everyone's stories unfold was beautiful and brilliant -- amidst the upheavals and chaos. I loved the way the pieces of each character's story came together, with a conclusion that really had me feeling all the feels.

It's difficult to share much of the storyline without giving away too much. I do, however, think this is one where trigger warnings are necessary, because some of these topics are detailed in pretty intense ways within this book. TW: suicide, substance abuse, infertility struggles.

Overall, this was a pretty intense and melancholy read. While it was outside the scope of my normal sort-of reads, I really enjoyed this one because of the richly-developed characters and the authenticity in which their stories were revealed. Thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and the author herself for the advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

#TheDaysBetween #RobinMorris #LakeUnionPublishing #NetGalley #NetGalleyReviews #ARC #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookrecommendations #adultfiction #contemporaryfiction #bookaddict #booknerd

No stranger to the book world, Author Robin Morris delivers a standout, captivating debut, THE DAYS BETWEEN — When the past converges with the present, a complex web of dark secrets threatens to unravel more than one family in this engaging multi-layered domestic suspense that will keep you glued to the pages until the explosive finale!

About...

Set in Delray Beach, a coastal town in South Florida (Palm Beach County), Andrew and Amy have great careers, a beautiful home on the beach in one of the finest neighborhoods, and a happy marriage (or is it)? However, they are missing one thing Amy desperately wants—a child.

Amy, age 40, knows her time is running out and wants a baby. They have been unable to conceive, and she wants to start with a fertility specialist/IVF and whatever she can do to speed up the process.

However, Andrew would prefer to adopt due to family problems with alcoholism. He is also up for a big promotion, and Amy wants him to turn it down due to travel.

Then Andrew's world is turned upside down one morning when he runs into Kathryn (a blast from the past) at Starbucks near his office. Her phone drops, and he sees someone like himself staring back at him. A son? His? It has been twenty years since she left him with no clue.

Kathryn was the love of Andrew's life in college, and they had plans to marry. They lived with his roommate Nick, who is now a cop in the same town. However, one day, Kathryn left with no word, leaving Andrew devastated and spiraling out of control, which changed the trajectory of his life.

Now an attorney, Kathryn is a single mom to a teen, Max. Max is quite rebellious and unaware he has a father. He has a trust fund and is out of control.

Andrew loves his wife but is pulled back into the past with Kathryn. He wants to know more about his son but cannot tell his wife because she would be devastated to learn he has a son. In the meantime, Amy has her own secrets, as does Andrew.

Things get further complicated when Kathryn's estranged friend (Harper from the past, who was married to Lucas previously) and their daughter (Emmy) are having problems at home (mother and rich, controlling grandmother, Nora). She reaches out to Kathryn (who formerly lived with them in their guest house) about staying with her until she goes to college in Seattle.

Kathryn agrees, but Emmy has no clue that she has a son at home, Max. The two develop a bond but keep it a secret. There is also a triangle with Nick, Kathryn, and Andrew and a history between Harper, Lucas, and Kathryn.

How will all the characters connect?

My thoughts...

Wow! THE DAYS BETWEEN does not read like a debut. I love books set in my backyard. (Delray Beach, West Palm Beach, Worth Avenue, Palm Beach, Boca, and more) Character-driven, a gripping page-turner of domestic suspense, tension, and drama!

I read hundreds of books each year, and this was STANDOUT! I was glued to the pages and read it in two sittings. THE DAYS BETWEEN is packed with suspense, tension, dark secrets, betrayal, lies, scandal, family dysfunction, and drama.

From then to now (past and present), with alternating timelines and multiple POVs, the story unfolds like a wild and emotional roller coaster ride. The tension builds as all the characters connect, leading to an explosive ending that will leave you breathless and eager for more.

The characters in THE DAYS BETWEEN are not just names on a page, they are living, breathing individuals with their own struggles, tragedies, hopes, dreams, and triumphs. Their stories are well-written, lyrical, heartfelt, complex, compelling, and emotional.

The characters are deeply flawed and complicated. An ideal pick for book clubs, as it will surely spark further discussions and deepen your understanding of the human experience.

It's not your typical family drama. It's a multi-layered, generational, twisty, and intense journey that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The tension builds to an ending that you won't see coming.

Robin Morris masters tackling these highly charged emotional topics with finesse. From alcoholism, mental health, racial and substance abuse to infertility, she navigates these issues with compassion and sensitivity, making the characters' experiences feel real and relatable. Her ability to juggle multiple points of view and dual timelines while exploring messy and complex family dynamics is truly impressive.

THE DAYS BETWEEN is a cross between a coming-of-age story, domestic suspense, family drama, mother/daughter and mother/son relationships, contemporary marriage, parenthood, and friendship. It is also a cautionary tale of secrets and lies we keep in our youth that change and shape our lives and those of others.

The author brilliantly creates a cast of characters (and secondary ones) that is laid out and easy to follow (backgrounds) with then and now. She references trigger points at the novel's beginning and handles them with ease.

If you enjoy well-written, complex family dramas, this one is for you! An author to watch. I cannot wait to see what comes next! Where has this author been? Love her style...Sequel, please—these characters are too good to end.

Recs...

This is for fans of the hit show This is Us and those who enjoy works by Rochelle B. Weinstein, Suzanne Redfearn, Jessica Strawser, Terah Shelton Harris, Eileen Goudge, A.J. Banner, Claire Lombardo, Hannah Mary McKinnon, Rea Frey, and Elin Hilderbrand's (The Perfect Couple) and Netflix series (all favorites).

Audiobook...

I enjoyed reading the book and listening to the audiobook performed by Courtney Patterson for an engaging performance.

Interview...

Stay tuned for my November featured #AuthorElevatorSeries Q&A with talented Robin Morris. On pub day, November 19, we will go behind the scenes of the book and get to know this new voice in fiction. Sign up for my newsletter on my blog to receive it in your inbox.

Thanks...

Special thanks to Lake Union Publishing (ARC) and Brilliance Audio (ALC) for sharing gifted digital copies via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Nov 19, 2024
My Rating: 5 Stars +
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#AuthorElevatorSeries QA

I’m sorry to say this one wasn’t for me. I found the book to be slow paced and downright depressing. In the last 50-60 pages it did pick up and the story began to weave together, but it wasn’t enough to fully redeem it for me. I enjoyed the ending and do think the writing was solid, but this one just didn’t land for me.

Great premise but an absolutely awful book that has nothing redeeming about it. The plot is thin, the characters one-dimensional and the dialogue confusing. Save your money.

A messy family drama about old secrets and lies that come zooming back 19 years later. Andrew has a chance encounter with an old flame and discovers that he has a son, throwing his life and that of others involved into an uproar, most notably that of his wife. There isn't much new here but it's well written and the characters are engaging. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC.

This family drama is set in Delray Beach, Florida. Andrew Williams, an investment banker, has finally achieved his dream of living in one of the area's large beachfront homes. That dream, however, had originally been with Kathryn Moretti, the former love of his life. Andrew and his wife Amy, a trauma surgeon, have yet to be successful in starting a family, which is straining their marriage. When Andrew runs into Kathryn as they both wait for their coffee orders, he sees a photo on her phone of her son Max, and it becomes clear that he is the father. Their lives, as well as those of their closest friends, are about to implode as lies and secrets start to come to the surface. 

Author Robin Morris has weaved an engaging story about the messiness of family relationships and friendships. The Days Before, an impressive debut, shows the ramifications of misguided decisions and keeping secrets. The characters are flawed and complicated and their anxiety levels run high. It's an emotional read. The book takes place a few miles from my home which gave it added appeal.

This one started so strong but lost steam. After a tense morning with his wife, a man goes to Starbucks and runs into the one that got away, someone he has not seen for years, It turns out she's harboring a major secret, one that surprisingly involves him. Where it lost me were the many POVs. I thought this tried to take on too much and I was having a hard time remembering or caring who was who by the end.

The Days Between by Robin Morris is quite a story about a father finding out about his son 19 years after he was born. The story has suspense.