This book starts with Alice Greene peering out a window. As she watches, everyone she knows, including her parents and husband, is taken into the light and disappears. Left behind are a handful of cult members. The book then alternates between the present, and Alice’s mother as she falls pregnant and joins the cult.

The book itself was very slow moving. The present day story could have been cut entirely, or the book could have ended when everyone disappears. I thought the mother’s journey joining the cult was far more interesting and could have read an entire book about that. Overall, 3 out of 5 stars.

Man, what a really great idea for a really underdeveloped book.

***SPOILERS***

The book follows two generations of families in a - let's call it what it is - cult. A mother, who enlists her family in the cult, and a daughter, now pregnant in the cult.

The story starts so slowly and nothing really happens until we find out the leader of the cult is a child molester. But that's not why people want to leave the cult - no, no. As long as it's not happening to their kids their are fine. It was a whole confusing mess of people not liking the cult but then being into the cult then not being into the cult again. Like baby daddy, Jason - he wanted to leave to be with the love of his life but then decides, no, he does want to go to the homecoming? What?

And then we never find out what the homecoming is so I guess we just assume a child rapist abusive cult leader is good with god and taken to Heaven?

And don't get me started on Edwin. His only goal is to look good for his father, Mr.-Culty-Cult leader, until then he just, bam, kills himself?

SOMEONE MAKE IT MAKE SENSE FOR ME!

What a poignant and heart breaking story of the draws and dysfunctions of religious cults.. Told from dual POV with the powerful interwoven voices of a mother and daughter, this books takes you on a journey of how one simple decision can impact multiple generations and alter families forever. This books is written with such tender and painful detail that it’s shocking to know it’s fiction and not, non fiction. Faulkenbury has a beautifully lyrical style to her writing that just sweeps you away in her prose. You’ll start this book and want to read it all the way through the end in one sitting. A must read!

this was a great book! I love to read about cults and especially about when people wake up and realize they are in a cult, and want to escape it. I completely understand that it is a scary thing, and it is hard to make those realizations once you are in so deep. This was a good perspective of that topic!!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

This book captured me from the first page. I don’t know that much about cults but I have always wondered how people can be naive enough to get caught in them. Reading a book like this, even though it is fiction, gives me a lot more understanding of the conditioning, the isolation and psycological abuse that leads someone to believe they have to stay.

I loved the way this story was told, the two timelines weaving together to tell the story from both Theresas and Alices perspectives. I could not put the book down. And allthough I found it frustrating sometimes, muttering ”just leave” to myself when reading certain passages, I enjoyed every page.

The writing was great, I could see all of it in my head. I also really appreciated that we don’t get all the answers at the end. Some of my all time favorite books do the same, not everything needs an explanation. I think I would have liked the book less if we got a last minute ”this is what happened to the missing people”.

I would love to read more from the author in the future. Will absolutely be buying a physical version of the book when it’s released so I can read it again and lend it out to friends and family. Will also be recommending it to the people I work with as an educator, the book was easy to read while still being gripping and thought provoking. I also think the subject matter will appeal to a lot of people.

Thank you for letting me read the book early, I think I can say with confidence that it will hold a spot for one of the best books I read this year.

4+ 🌟


A book about a cult ??? I am definitely in!!

This was an interesting one, told over two timelines, so you could see why the young couple were drawn in, but also why that lifetime member might want to leave.
How the ideals have soured, and loyalties have been tested and often found wanting.
Fascinating how one man becomes leader without (much) question to all.
An excellent book that I'm going to be thinking about for a while.
Also, shootout to the Camerons, who were just the best.