A chilling, suspenseful read. I have not read a book by this author before but I will be seeking more! I enjoyed following Laura and Tilly and their lives after Gavan Laura's husband died. I would recommend to anyone who likes a thrilling fiction tale.

I'm sorry to say that I really didn't enjoy this book. I found the story to be very convoluted and far fetched, and I didn't like the characters. Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.

Wow!
This book hooks you in right from the very beginning. The dire straights that Laura finds herself in following the death of her husband leave her extremely vulnerable and she is preyed on by a community that become ever more cult-like in behaviour as she and her daughter join them.
Every character at Oak Leaf organics has a creepy aspect to them, at least in Laura's mind, and she is keen to leave but Tilly wants to stay.
As truth upon truth are revealed the anxiety level increases and as situations are explored from the 3 main viewpoints of Laura, Tilly and Alex the plot well and truly thickens.
A great read that will leave you willing them not to join the commune from early doors and then desperate for them to leave!

Laura’s husband dies, Gavan, dies unexpectedly. This leaves herself and her seventeen year old daughter, Tilly, in a world where nothing feels the same. Financially struggling and ostracised from Gavan’s brother, wife and niece, she accepts an invitation to stay at Oak Leaf Organics to help her back on her feet. Will this be the making, or breaking of the two-strong family unit?

I enjoyed the differing viewpoints in the novel and the variety this gave, although it felt like one in particular was a little under explored. These perspectives provided a lot of strands, however, and these got a bit confusing towards the end. I also felt the cult-style theme was just a little too much for me, and it reached the point of being unbelievable.

Louise Jensen writes well, however, and I will definitely be checking out some of her other books!

Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A really good spine chilling read. I was hooked from the start. This is a complicated story full of secrets and lies right up until the end.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

Wasn’t at all sure about this book - during the first half, I wondered about continuing to read if I’m honest. Dark, unrealistic and I just wasn’t feeling the story line at all. I’m glad I did persevere as the second half flowed better and I was more pulled into the story but overall, this just didn’t really deliver for me.

This is the first book I have read by this author and it definitely won’t be the last.

The story follows Laura as she struggles to come to terms with the death of her husband, and her daughter Tilly, who discovers a devastating secret about her dad.

A compelling storyline; with everyone hiding secrets, there is an unexpected twist at the end.

A very intense read about family, the secrets, the lies, kept me hooked from start to finish, a great read

I had a good feeling about this book within the first 5 minutes of reading and it certainly didn't disappoint. The story followed Laura and Tilly and their life after Gavan Laura's husband died tragically. Laura just wanted to get life back on track for herself and Tilly but what happened over the following weeks would change their lives forever. Lots of twists to the story that keeps you hooked from start to finish

The book started well with the main characters Laura and her daughter Tilly dealing with the emotional and financial fall out after Laura's husband dies. In this vulnerable state, it is easy to believe that Laura and Tilly could be drawn into living at Oak Leaf Organics, a commune where everyone helps each other. All the characters have secrets and you are left wondering who to believe.
The book is written in the first person POV for Laura, Tilly, and Alex who runs the commune. This is done so the reader can see the different reactions the characters have in the same situation. However, all it does it repeat the storyline so as a reader I was sometimes left skimming pages and I decided that I didn't miss much by doing this. Some chapters were just a few sentences long. Why? This did not give me time to get into that character's mind and all it did was interrupt the flow of the story.
The plot had the promise of twists and multiple secrets, but in the end, I was underwhelmed. Too contrived and the author tried too hard to convince me that certain characters were flawed.
This book was not for me but I can understand that others will like it. It was easy to read and understand. I would have preferred more depth to the characters, but that's just my preference. So if you want an easy read with plenty of secrets and twists then try it, you might like it.

A great read about love, loss and obsession. Theres nothing to go back to when everything falls apart, is there?

I felt compelled to read this book on on the strength of Louise’ previous novels. The synopsis intrigued, alluding to the tragic death of Laura’s husband and subsequent financial struggles that lead her and teenage daughter, Tilly, to an alternative community lifestyle and all sorts of dark, disturbing occurrences!! It delivered in terms of the storyline but somehow didn’t draw me in as much as previous offerings - possibly as I didn’t particularly like (and therefore care about) the characters involved. That said it did feature a few twists - the prerequisite of a worthy psychological thriller in my opinion. A decent read overall.

5* read that had me gripped throughout and had me wanting to pick up my kindle every change I got!
A psychological thriller with more twists than a coiled spring, each one shocking and surprising.
This book really makes you realise how vulnerable human beings can be when feeling desperate, low and in certain mind frames.
The plot was well thought out and clever. It’s my first Louise Jenson book and I’m now so excited to read her others.
Highly recommend you add this to your to read list for when it’s released in October.

Laura is grieving after the sudden death of her husband. Struggling to cope emotionally and financially, Laura is grateful when a local community, Oak Leaf Organics, offer her and her 17-year-old daughter Tilly a home.
 
But as Laura and Tilly settle into life with their new ‘family’, sinister things begin to happen. When one of the community dies in suspicious circumstances Laura wants to leave but Tilly, enthralled by the charismatic leader, Alex, refuses to go.
 
Desperately searching for a way to save her daughter, Laura uncovers a horrifying secret but Alex and his family aren’t the only ones with something to hide. Just as Laura has been digging into their past, they’ve been digging into hers and she discovers the terrifying reason they invited her and Tilly in, and why they’ll never let them leave…

"Ruby shoes and promises of home."
This psychological thriller starts well. Laura's husband, Gavan, died only a few weeks before, falling from scaffolding on his construction site. They have one daughter, Tilly, who, at 17, is displaying some teenage angst. Truth is, she's unhappy at school, deserted by her best friend and cousin, and also hiding some terrible secret about her dead dad which he had begged her not to tell. Laura also is feeling desperate, not only because Tilly is acting strangely towards her but because financial constraints mean she's maxed out on any payment choices, is badly in debt, going to lose her florist business and is probably going to lose the family home, too, unless the half a million insurance payment arrives immediately - which it won't until the inquest supplies a death certificate showing that the death had been purely accidental. She is also harbouring a secret, one kept even from Tilly. The stress is overwhelming her and she has an epileptic fit, tells her troubles to a passing, kind stranger and is invited to stay, with her daughter, at a local farm, Oak Leaf Organics, whilst she gets her affairs in order, helped by the group leader, Alex, who is also a solicitor. Touched by the kindness, she agrees to a temporary stay.

The story is told, mostly in the first person, from the points of view of Laura and Tilly, with occasional sections from Alex. This allows the reader to be right inside the minds and emotions of these protagonists and see the different reactions to the same events that occur, which is sometimes interesting but mostly simply delays the progress of the story. It is also a way of avoiding a proper characterisation of these people, and is, in a way, dishonest (sorry, you'll have to read it: don't want to leave spoilers). The characters remain insubstantial, somewhat shadowy, despite all that is written about them. The flashbacks in time also add to a mild confusion. And, really, the accumulated coincidences make the plot unrealistic.

The author seems to have an obsession with blood, both in the idea of blood relations, and the actual red stuff flowing through our veins, with all too frequent reference to 'blood In my mouth where my teeth had clamped around my tongue', and, 'tongue clamps between his teeth and he tastes blood'. There is also a slightly more interesting play with ideas from The Wizard of Oz. In the end, a lot has been set up and, yes, there is plentiful action, but it's all very contrived and unsatisfactory. I'd say that the ending was rushed if it were not for this reader's desire, by then, for it all to be concluded.

The promise of a good book which then falls very short - poor characterisation, unrealistic scenarios, and the established expectation of a deep secret that - well, again, you'll have to read it to find out - leaves a feeling of dissatisfaction which, as I think back on it as I write this review, makes me wonder if 3 stars is not being overly generous. And yet, at the time of reading, it was mostly engrossing, so the rating stays.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers, Harper Collins, who, at my request, freely gifted me with a complimentary ebook copy of The Family

The Family is a significantly darker book than Louise’s previous work and it felt a lot more emotionally charged than your average psychological thriller. From page one I was teetering on a knife’s edge between controlling myself or letting the tears flow. The grief and desperation in the opening chapters is almost painful to read and my heart hurt for Laura and Tilly.

I can see the appeal of the Oak Leaf Organics way of life – shut off from technology, the constant pressure from social media, accepted for who you are and not what has happened in your past. On the one hand, it felt idyllic, but on the other my head was screaming that Laura should run far and run fast! Although everything seemed so innocent and welcoming, I couldn’t shake the sinister feeling that hung over me.

I actually finished reading this book a little over a week ago and it has taken until now for me to get my thoughts in order sufficiently to write the review that it deserves. By the time the full story unfolded my head was in a spin, not knowing who to trust, what the truth really was. It was exhausting, but at the same time completely brilliant.

Every time I read a book by Louise Jensen, my first thought is always that there is no way she can top the previous book and every time I am proven wrong. The Family is no exception to this, and I honestly think this is her best book yet.

The tension builds gradually, as we know something bad is going to happen to Tilly or her mother, Laura, but we don't know what or to whom. I felt empathy for Laura, and the three main characters are realistic. The story narratored by these three characters, and this largely works well, but was occasionally annoying when a conversation is repeated word for word. There were some clever twists at the end, and overall I really enjoyed reading this book.

Wow, this book is just twist after twist after twist.
Recently widowed Louisa is struggling financially whilst supporting her daughter tilly through her grief. Her business has gone bust but a chance meeting with saffron offers a temporary lifeline to them both. Saffron lives on a secluded self sufficient farm where the reader begins to question whether this is actually a cult they have joined.
As the story progresses we realise all of the characters are all interlinked and all of them carry lies with them.
A brilliant book which just keeps the surprises coming. Highly recommend.

Laura has recently been widowed and is finding it a struggle to cope.
Her daughter Tilly has returned to school after her father’s death to find that her best friend has turned against.
An acquaintance, Saffron, suggests that they move to a farm that is being run as a cooperative/commune and Laura thinks that this could be a short-term solution to her problems.
When they come to the farm and find a large gate, barbed wire and an electric fence, she has doubts but she and Tilly are persuaded to stay for a while.
Laura and Tilly are both harbouring secrets that could destroy their relationship, and as the charismatic leader of the group, Alex, becomes part of their lives these secrets become more toxic.

The book is narrated by Laura, Tilly and Alex, and this works extremely well.
There are so many chances for Tilly and her mother to be open with each other, but they keep misinterpreting what is said, or done, and the dual narration really brings this out.
Needless to say all does not end well, lies are told, secrets are uncovered, and the end gives a chilling glimpse of their future.

Thankyou to the publisher HQ and Netgalley for the opportunity the read this book.

This was a humdinger of a read! I'm not going to reveal any spoilers but the biiiiiigggg surprises came at the end! Great writing, suspenseful and rich in characters and setting. It kept me enthralled from the very first page and it just didn't let up. Be prepared to be unprepared at the finale. I'll say no more other than I'm anxiously awaiting Louise Jensen's next offering. The gal sure knows how to write a rivetting thriller, that's for sure! Loved this book, just loved it and was sorry when I finished it. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for the E-ARC of this book.

Wow! What a book! This is the first time I have ever read anything by Louise Jenson, and It definitely will not be the last. I'm usually pretty good at guessing where things are heading but i was wrong on several occasions. This was full of surprises and full of twists and turns right to the end.

I loved how it was set in Wales with the occasional bit of Welsh being thrown in. It really set the scene well for me and I could clearly picture all of the characters!

A really gripping read that I highly recommend!