The Cousins is a thrilling book that took me on a long journey filled with surprise and suspense and I loved every minute of it. This being my first book by Karen McManus, I didn’t know what to expect and I was pleasantly surprised with how much I loved her writing. It’s easy and flows really well, I’d say she is a good storyteller.
I loved the pacing of the book… Not slow yet not fast, just enough to keep you on edge and had me wanting more.

The characters are a treat to follow along, each with a secret and my favourite thing about them is seeing how they navigate through the lies and secrets, while trying to maintain a relationship with each other. Talk about gratifying!

The book is more character based than anything and if this is something you enjoy, I definitely recommend. With Karen’s clever writing, the book will draw you in from the first page.

Typical young privileged young Americans, have to work at their estramged grandmother's holiday island for a summer. Lots of fun

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book I’m exchange for a review.

While this book was a bit different from Karen McManus’s other works (of which I adore) it definitely kept the whaaaaat factor which you’d expect from one of these novels.

I did find it was slightly slow to start, but once it got going it definitely picked up pace rapidly when the storyline began to unfold.

I would 100% recommend this book to fans of McManus and fans of YA mysteries and thrillers.

Today I’m talking to you guys about The Cousins by Karen M. McManus as part of The Write Reads blog tour! I’m so excited to be participating in this enormous tour with over 150 participants, so be sure to keep an eye out for lots of buzz around this book this month! As always, I’m very thankful to have been supplied a copy to read early thanks to The Write Reads and the publisher, but can assure you that this in no way affects my thoughts and opinions.

I have a bit of a strange relationship with Karen McManus books. In the past I’ve found her books haven’t really reached their potential for me, but every time a new one is announced, I can’t resist because they’re so intriguing to me and the premises sound so exciting! So, that’s what happened when I picked up The Cousins – I loved the sound of the premise, but I didn’t want to get my hopes up incase it fell flat. But I know some of you guys have felt the same, so I wanted to pick this one up and let you know whether it’s worth your time. And honestly guys, I was so surprised! I ended up really enjoying The Cousins, and came away feeling like it was McManus’s best work yet. I think she really found her stride here, and it was very cleverly plotted.

The Characters

↠ Aubrey

Aubrey is the smart, athletic good girl who is afraid to stand up for herself against her truly unpleasant boyfriend and domineering father. Aubrey definitely feels like a bit of a stereotype at first, but I think it was really interesting to see her character develop throughout the story.

↠ Milly

Milly was my favourite I think. She really embodied that Gossip Girl heiress vibe, whilst breaking down the stereotypes of how it feels to be an heiress striving for affection and perfection. She’s also got mixed heritage which adds a different element of depth to her struggles as a character, through I would have liked to see this explored a little more.

↠ Jonah

Jonah was my least favourite character, simply because I just didn’t really care about him, though I appreciate what he lent to the plot and how his presence seems to bring out more in Milly and Aubrey’s relationship – which is where the book shone for me.

So, I’m not going to get into any sort of plot detail here as I don’t want to give anything away, but the pacing of this book felt a lot different to McManus’s previous books. She took her time in introducing the characters and the central mystery and really played around with the character dynamics. Throughout the course of the book we peel away layers of family history to better understand the secrets and mystery of Gull Cove Island and the Story family. With three generations to play with, multiple perspective and even multiple timelines explored, I was really impressed at how this book wove through time and history to lay breadcrumbs leading to the central mystery. We follow our three cousins, whilst also getting to know their parents by unravelling the secrets, all whilst leading to the mysterious Story matriarch, Mildred, who seems to be an enigma all on her own.

One of the issues I have with YA thrillers in general is that they’re often either way too predictable, or the twists are way too random and unbelievable. The Cousins seemed to hit that sweet spot in the middle, with clues and seeds of mystery leading up to twist after twist that truly surprised me, while also feeling grounded and just believable enough.

Overall, I think fans of Karen M. McManus are going to devour this book and love it, without a doubt. But, I also would say if you’ve found McManus’s books to fall flat in the past, then perhaps it’s time to give her another go! This is a YA thriller that has really found its stride in pacing and puzzles. With a slow burn build up, and twists that will keep you up all night to finish it (as it did me!), The Cousins is a great example of a fun and addictive mystery that should be put in the hands of any budding detective. I am so glad to see McManus growing and improving as a writer and plotter, and can’t wait to see where she takes us next.

Thank you to Dave @ The Write Reads, the publisher, Penguin, and Netgalley for sending me an e-ARC in exchange for tour participation and an honest review!

How does one review a book when the first thing you said when you finished it was a very emphatic “WHAT THE $%&^”?

Like… in a good way, y’all!

The Cousins is a novel full of twists that follows three cousins, Milly, Aubrey, and Jonah Story, who barely know each other and even less about their mysterious grandmother. That’s because said grandmother very publicly disinherited her children before they were even born and cut all ties. But now, they have all received an invitation to come work her resort for the summer and their parents make sure they know that the only appropriate response is to jump on the opportunity to get back in her good graces. Now the secrets of the Story family may finally come to light.

I went into this book fully expecting to enjoy my reading experience. I’ve read almost all of Karen M. McManus’ books and I haven’t given any of them anything less than four stars. There is something about her writing that just immediately captures me as soon as I crack open one of her novels. It’s engaging, it’s digestable, and it’s so fun! This book was definitely no exception. It was like a delicious, indulgent snack that I was trying to eat before my kids found me: incredibly enjoyable and over too soon! I tore through this book because it’s so compulsively readable. The pacing was perfection, the tone was crafted in a way that I felt like I was on summer vacation in the middle of fall, and the twists… the twists!

Actually, let’s take a moment to talk about how well the twists were executed in this book. There was a moment, towards the beginning, where I sat there, smug as all get out, because I thought “I totally know where this is going.”

Reader, I did NOT know where it was going.

I thought I did and then McManus pulled the rug out from under me. As someone who loves herself some thrillers, I do love when an author can keep me guessing. McManus does a fantastic job of dangling one tantalizing trail in front of you and then completely flipping the script. I think where she truly shines is with her endings. HER ENDINGS!!! The last few chapters of this book had my mouth absolutely agape. I threw my water bottle across the room at one point and I legitimately flailed my arms. The cat in my lap did not appreciate it 😂 I do love a book that can illicit a physical response! And a thriller that can get me that invested in the characters and their fate is always a winner in my book.

Speaking of the characters! Can we talk about how the author once again crafted a group of characters that felt so freakin’ alive on the page? Seriously, I absolutely loved Milly, Aubrey, and Jonah. They are all such beautifully crafted characters complete with nuance and depth that makes them feel like people you could meet in real life. And I loved their relationships. I grew up in a military family and a lot of my extended family are also military. We never lived close to my cousins, so we never really got to know one another. The first time Milly, Aubrey, and Jonah meet… I felt that awkwardness in my soul. The way they relationship develops felt so organic and made my heart happy. All at the same time that I was suspicious of LITERALLY EVERYONE! I think this is why I love McManus’ thrillers so much. She always infuses her characters with so much personality that I quickly become invested in whatever mess they find themselves in.

Final thoughts: Karen M. McManus has wow’d me again! This thriller is compulsively readable, filled with twists and turns that will keep you on your toes from page one until the very end. I especially loved the blossoming familial relationships in this book and how quickly I became invested in the characters and their story (haaaaaaaa). If you like your thrillers to be fast-paced with a lot of twists and a fantastic cast, I think you’ll enjoy The Cousins!

READ THIS IF... you like decades old family secrets, teenagers taking mysteries into their own hands, and witty, fast paced page turners.

THE STORY... is about the Story family - a wealthy and tight knit family, until the children are disowned by their mother with a letter reading ‘You know what you did.’ Twenty-four years later, cousins Aubrey, Milly, and Jonah receive an invitation to spend the summer at their Grandma’s resort. But there’s more than one mystery to solve, and there’s no guarantee that anyone they’re meeting is someone they can trust.

I WAS... completely captivated. The book centres around the mystery of why Grandma Mildred disowned her children, but that isn’t the only mystery - nothing was ever certain, which is what made this book such a page turner.

I enjoyed the narrative perspectives from Milly, Aubrey, and Jonah - and although Aubrey ended up being my favourite (she went on such an amazing journey!), I genuinely loved them all.

This book had me laughing out loud, and one particularly embarrassing scene made me have to put the book down to cringe! However, it also dealt carefully with serious issues including alcoholism and dementia, and had a thrilling (and stressful) climax.

NOW... I highly recommend getting yourself a copy of this, especially if you’ve enjoyed Karen McManus’ previous books. I still need to read One Of Us Is Lying, but I’m thinking I’ll have to get a copy of the sequel before I start it so I can read them together!

The three very different cousins have never met their grandmother Mildred and hardly even know each other, so they are very surprised to each receive a letter inviting them to work on Gull Cove Island, Mildred's exclusive resort. While Millie and Aubrey immediately bond, Jonah seems determined to stay moody and distant. None of the teens know why their parents are estranged from Mildred. Their only clue is the 'you know what you did' letter and the parents are not very forthcoming, all saying they are convinced they didn't do anything.
I liked Milly and Aubrey right away, and even Jonah grew on me, but I have to say their parents all seem terrible! It's hard to believe the kids turned out as well as they did. Only the three kids really get fleshed out in terms of their characters as they are the main protagonists. We do get a bit of Milly's mum as a young girl but I really would have liked to know more about the grandmother.
The book is gripping and full of interwoven mysteries. Each new twist or piece of information just adds to the complexity. The flashbacks to the past add another intriguing layer to the mystery, and I really wanted to find out how it would all fit in together. I had plenty of theories but I don't think I could ever have guessed the final outcome!

I’ve been sooo in the mood for Ya Mystery or thriller books! After my romance phase during the summer, now I’ve been binging all the thriller and crime stories I could get my hands on and this one fit the bill 100%.

I just flew through the pages, totally engrossed in the story and smiling throughout. I had the best time reading this. (Even though I’m quite stressed right now but the Cousins provided a welcome break from all that)

The book is written in some kind of dual timeline. For the most chapters, we follow one of the three cousins; Milly, Aubrey or Jonah. But we also get chapters from Allisions POV (Milly’s mom) when she was a teenager.
The writing style flows effortlessly and again, I was flying through the book.

I loved the premise of the book; The 4 Story kids being disinherited by their mother and all the explanation they ever got is a letter with one sentence: You know what you did.
This promises lots of family secrets that only wait to be uncovered.

There are lots of different subplots, little twists and turns and whenever you think you know what will happen, something other is uncovered. I loved all these little secrets and how they were revealed.

But most of all I loved the dynamic between Aubrey, Milly and Jonah. They are all very distinct characters, with their own mannerisms and hopes. Their banter is hilarious sometimes and I had to laugh so much from some things Aubrey said (I’d love to quote one, but unfortunately my fav is a big spoiler)

The first meeting between Milly and Jonah was hilarious as well. (I’m just gonna say constipated gnome …)

With each new chapter, I liked the three more and more. Usually, characters like Milly and Jonah, very sassy or really grumpy, are my favs but I loved Aubrey right from the start, too. She is so hopeful and kind, and something in her story just hit a bit too close too home.

“Without Milly here, I can’t inject as much disdain into my words as I want to.
Being sarcastic to Aubrey feels like kicking a puppy”

I also really liked how all three of them grew up in very different ways and how it all affected their life.

The setting on Gul Cove Island is also quite cool. I liked exploring it alongside the characters and meeting all the people who knew their parents from their childhood.

The Cousins was a fun, addictive read from start to finish! I’m definitely gonna check out Karen’s other books because now I’m hooked!
If you haven’t read anything by her yet, I really suggest you do.

“The Story family is seriously messed up.”

The simple truth of that hits me with more surprise than it should. Even though I’ve alsways known my father’s family wasn’t exactly normal, I sued to think there was something … romantic, I guess, about their particular brand of disfuntion. But truth is, my dad and his siblings are all miserably.

So I have to admit I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book as it’s written for an audience that is younger than I am. However, it’s a book that can be read by any age, it’s written in such a way that it just grabbed me and kept me reading. I finished this in one day which is not something that happens often.

I really enjoyed this book, it would appeal to anyone who likes psychological thrillers and mysteries. The story, as the blurb says, revolves around the Story family and the mystery of what happened years ago when their mother disowned them and cut off all contact. Suddenly, one day the grandchildren receive letters inviting them to the family island for the summer but all is not as it seems. The grandchildren are all 17/18 years old and I feel that the book is aimed at that age group but as I’ve said, it can be read by other age groups too. The Story grandchildren are smart and more sensible than their parents seem to give them credit for, and it was good to see their character development through the book. They deal with a variety of situations really well and the relationship between the three of them really makes the story work.

The descriptions of the other characters and the island itself are really well-written and definitely got me involved in the the three main characters and how they were affected by what happened. The plot went in directions that I didn’t expect but it fitted with the story and the backstory that had been developed, which is exactly what you want in a good book.

If you’ve read others by this author, or like me seen the books and wondered about them, then I would definitely recommend this one. It’s a really good read that will keep you coming back for more.

I love Karen McManus and have read all of her previous work, and she is slowly becoming one of my favourite writers of YA mystery and thrillers. So, when I found out about her new book The Cousins I knew I had to get my hands on it. Truth be told, I was rather excited to get stuck into her new thriller and see where it lead.

The Cousins follows Milly, Aubrey and Jonah, three cousins who have been estranged for a long while. Their parents were disowned by their grandmother several years previous and never heard from her again. One day, all three of the cousins receive an invitation to work and spend the summer at their grandmother’s resort. They all decide to go and meet the lady who has been a secret for their entire lives. However, once they get there they soon discover that the secrets their family have been keeping run deep and the three teens are determined to discover what they are before it’s too late.


Well… The Cousins certainly has that mysterious, gripping edge that McManus is known for in her previous novels. I was automatically intrigued by the riddles surrounding the Story family and found myself longing to know more through each chapter I passed. You are brought into this world of wealth, greed and secrecy and you don’t want to leave. You are sucked in, and hooked and I know this is how McManus wanted you to feel.

The story itself runs a bit slower than the stories in previous novels by the author, and it does take time for the plot to build up into something substantial. This did leave me feeling quite worried as to if I was going to enjoy the overall plot, however about halfway through the action kicks in and I was pulled in. I found the way the secrets and mystery surrounding the Story family are revealed to be, well shocking and as someone who usually guesses the conclusion to a thriller, I was surprised to say I didn’t see this certain reveal coming. Also, I just want to mention the setting of Gull Cove added to the intrigue and secretiveness of the plot, and I could just imagine something sinister happening there.

Each cousin had a different personality and I found myself gravitating towards all of them for different reasons. Milly, at first you think she’s the perfect, pretty girl but as you get to know her character more you see a more vulnerable side to her, and that vulnerability ultimately ends up changing her for the better. With Aubrey, we first see her as the sporty girl who just wants to please everyone, all whilst going through a crisis herself. Throughout the story we see her grow with confidence and become the strong young woman she wants to me. Now with Jonah, he was a bit of an enigma at first. I wasn’t sure what path his character was going down. Nevertheless, we start to see growth within him, and come to the end he’s changed into a much better person, less selfish and more willing to listen. I also enjoyed getting to know Allison’s character (Milly’s mum) through flashback scenes woven into the plotline. We get to see how vulnerable Allison was and it somewhat mirrors Milly’s character.

The Cousins was, overall another triumph for McManus. It’s a beguiling, mystifying read that had me addicted with its twists, turns and thrilling agenda.

I received this book from the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

This has a different vibe to McManus’ other books - more family mystery and fewer tense thriller moments. I found it worked pretty well for me, it was an interesting concept! I figured out earlyish what the parents had done (or close enough) but definitely missed a good proportion of the rest.

I really liked the idea of this family drifting apart because the matriarch disowns everyone, and the study in how it affected her children in different ways was fascinating. Milly, Aubrey and Jonah are good views into the world of their parents, and into the current goings on of the island. I also loved getting to meet Archer and see what felt like an honest battle with addiction.

I’d have liked to have seen a little more background on how everything worked out between the two timelines we see, but otherwise I have no complaints! 😂

A very intriguing and addictive read. 4 stars.

The Cousins is one of the best young adult novels I have read in a long time. The perfect amount of suspense mixes with a ton of mystery. Karen McManus is a master storyteller.

I didn’t think I would like any of the cousins from their first introduction. Milly was too pushy and trying too hard to be an adult. Aubrey was a pushover with a lot of trust issues. And Jonah was a sullen brat. But as the story unfolds, I came to love every one of these characters. They were all exactly as I described them. But when you learn more about these kids, you understand the why behind their behavior. And the truth is, it is heartbreaking.

I wasn’t familiar with Kaen McManus’s work when I signed on for this blog tour. But the blurb had me interested from the first, and now I can’t wait to read her other works. McManus spins a tale that is worthy of her bestseller status.

The setting of Gull Cove Island is spectacular. The author captures the beauty in every word. I could feel myself singing along with the folks hanging out at Dunes. Every cue ball shot by Jonah sent a chilling crack through my chest. I can’t get over how much I loved this world, and the mystery was excellent. Each chapter leaking a little more information. Every one ending with a tiny little cliffhanger that made me reluctant to put it down.

I am happy to award The Cousins a full 5 out of 5 stars. Anyone who loves a good mystery with some fun mixed in will love this novel. I recommend it to any young adult fans out there.

Rating: ★★★.75

My Thoughts
I have to say I really enjoyed this. I liked the pacing, the plot constantly moved forward. And I loved the characters and their dynamic. I thought the plot was interesting. There was just something missing and I can't quite put my finger on what that is.

Setting
The story starts with the 3 cousins in their home towns, but we quickly move to the Island where they have been brought to work over the summer. We get to explore most parts of the Island which reminded me of Sitka, Alaska in The Proposal except more beachy. I honestly felt like I was watching a movie, the descriptions were vivid and clear.

The Characters
There are 4 perspectives. The 3 cousins (Milly, Aubrey and Jonah) in present time and Allison (Milly's mum) when she was 18. I got a little confused at times because their voices started to blend a little and sound the same but regardless I liked being in all their heads. I related most to Aubrey but my favourite perspective was Jonah.

Milly is very much about appearance but throughout the novel we see that all she wants is to be accepted and loved so I found her character development quite fascinating.

Aubrey is non confrontational which means that people feel they can walk all over her. Her character hit very close to home and reminded me so much of myself. The girl we meet at the start is not who she is at the end and I loved that for her character.

Jonah is very determined and takes crap from no one. He goes through a lot of hardship and I found that his reactions were understandable. But he can also be impulsive.

Then throughout we see bits of The Story Siblings in the past. And boy this family is messed up!

Pacing/Writing
The first half of the book I would describe as quiet. The story goes along and we discover little pieces of information. I guessed a few of the twists but the way they evolved was done quite cleverly. And then the books ending goes off with a bang.

I would describe the writing as "the calm before the storm". You know something is brewing but you don't know what. It was intriguing and I was hooked.

It was written in a way that was basic and simple just the way I like it. It reads like a contemporary which I guess this is.

The Plot
This books strength lies with the characters and their evolving relationships. Not only with each other but with their parents, and with people they meet on the Island. In the first third of the book I felt like I was reading a contemporary which was fine by me. Then we shift a gear and stories are told. We learn more about the past. Then in the last third we shift another gear and that is when everything unravels. It's hard to describe the plot because not a lot happens. This is a story of discovery that you need to explore yourself.

Overall
In a nutshell, this was a good read. It kept me intrigued the whole way through and at the end I was on the edge of my seat. The characters and relationships were marvelous even the strained relationships like Aubrey and her father. Because it helped her come into her own. I would definitely recommend this.

Content Warning
Death of a loved one, Loved one with Dementia, Alcoholism, Murder

Representation
Biracial, POC, Gay

I enjoyed this, but it didn't have the usual flair that I'd associate with this author. There were a couple of obvious tropes that might just be my age, but I prefer the style of the previous books.
Hard to review without spoilers, so without giving away any plotting, I would definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys teen thrillers.

My 11+ teen mystery fans will enjoy this, although there is some more YA content it's not central to the plot. I really didn't feel any particular affection for any of the characters in the book but perhaps I'm the wrong demographic!

The Cousins is a story about Milly, Aubrey and Jonah. Three 17-year-old cousins, whose parents were all abruptly disinherited from their family’s fortune years ago – the cause of which still remains a mystery to this day. All parents claim they have no idea. And the only clue they have is the inexplicable letters they all received from their mother when it all went down. Ones that simply read “you know what you did.”

But that’s ancient history so it would seem. When each cousin receives a letter addressed to them from their grandmother inviting them to (work at) her island resort for the summer, their parents all see it as an opportunity to make amends for their mistakes and get their inheritance reinstated. But to truly make amends the cousins will need to figure out what went wrong that fateful day so many years ago… And things are never as simple as they seem.

Prior to reading The Cousins I was already quite familiar with Karen M. McManus’s other literary works. I in particular LOVED One of Us is Lying – I found it fresh, fun, and thrilling! Having not read a mystery/thriller targeted towards Young Adults since I was a teen myself making my way through the Pretty Little Liars series, McManus’s debut novel really re-opened my eyes to the possibilities and reignited my love for the – somewhat niche – YA mystery/thriller genre.

After having already adored two of her previous works – the aforementioned One of Us is Lying and its sequel, One of Us is Next – I had incredibly high hopes for this novel. And wow, even taking into account my (already pretty high!) expectations, The Cousins blew me out of the water!

The Cousins is officially my favorite book by McManus to date (and an absolute 5 star read)! It’s everything a quality mystery/thriller should be: daring, a dash of incredulous, and above all else, entirely gripping until the very last page.

All three of the main characters were both easy to love and also interesting to follow – a feat not always easily achieved. The setting an excellently unique take on a classic trope. And the plot jam packed with so many twists and turns you barely have time to catch your breath! McManus manages to weave a story full of suspense and surprise, unable to predict, and impossible to put down.

If you’re already a fan of Karen M. McManus you should definitely get your hands on a copy of her latest work. And, honestly, even if you weren’t a fan of her previous novels I’d still recommend this one to you… it’s just that good.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Delacorte Press/Penguin Random House, for providing me with an e-ARC of this book. All thoughts are my own.

Every Karen M. McManus book surprises me, and I think by now I should know and expect to enjoy them. I liked and flew through her other books, and The Cousins was no different.

The story follows 3 estranged cousins: Milly, Aubrey and Jonah, who are invited to spend a summer at their grandmother's resort. The catch is, she disowned her own children 24 years ago and has not kept in contact with either of them since. So, why is she reaching out now?

I was pretty hooked on the premise from the get go. I really enjoy family mysteries, the more twisted ones, the better, so I was looking forward to reading it - although I kept my expectations low, because YA mysteries tend to be too predictable for me. The story really took off from the first few chapters (as it's told from alternating POVs of the 3 cousins), though it didn't capture me fully until the halfway point.
I enjoyed all three of the cousins' perspectives and how different they and their circumstances were. Once the flashbacks were introduced, I started caring a lot more about the past events, though, and I wish the story focused more on the Story children, and not the grandkids. Truth be told, the mystery worked either way.

I think Karen M. McManus is really good at pacing her stories and giving the readers just enough info to keep them interested and engaged. Like with her other books, I didn't once get bored and want to put the book down to take a break. I had fun reading it start to finish, although it wasn't perfect by any means.

I could've done without the romance, but I say it every time. I know parts of it put things in motion when it comes to plot, but I think I'd enjoy it more if literally anything else happened.
Although I didn't fully figure out where the story was going, I had a pretty good inkling how it'll end, and the finale didn't surprise me. It's not always detrimental for me to be shocked by the reveal to enjoy a story, as long as the rest of the book makes up for it, and I'll happily admit it did. I think as far as YA mysteries go, this one turned out pretty impressive.

Next time Karen M. McManus comes out with another book, I'll try not to doubt her. She's proven to write continuously fun and engaging stories.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

As per usual, McManus knocks it out of the park with her new novel. Expertly plotted, the narrative drives you towards the conclusion relentlessly - if you could put it down you're a better person than I! The Cousins is slightly less convoluted than One Of Us Is Lying but no less enjoyable. One of my favourite authors.

Karen M. McManus has kept her spot on my list of favorite YA mystery/thriller authors! Though The Cousins wasn’t my favorite book of hers, she has this amazing ability to keep me hooked on anything she writes.

One of the things that I thought was really great about this book was that I found each of the three cousins to not only be likable, but also very relatable. While they are classic teenagers with many individual flaws, I developed a soft spot in my heart for each of them. I don’t feel too hot about any of the side characters (and I still want to punch several of them in the face) but having likable/relatable main characters is maybe the most important thing to me as a reader.

The main thing that I was disappointed with was how predictable I found the book. It is definitely filled with many twists and turns, but I saw almost all of them coming beforehand so I didn’t get that same gut-punch that other reviewers received. I was also constantly getting confused between the Story brothers because all of their names begin with the letter “A”. Even now that I’ve finished the book, I still couldn’t tell you who is who off the top of my head.

Regardless, The Cousins is a book that can be enjoyed by YA and adult readers alike and I’m definitely going to be keeping my eye out for more of Karen M. McManus’ works.

Thank you to The Write Reads and Karen M. McManus for providing me with this free eARC in exchange for an honest review!

My Thoughts: firstly, let me say I’ve been trying to write this on and off all day, due to a bereavement in the family it’s not been easy to get my thoughts in order BUT I owe it to everyone involved in the blog tour and the book to give it my best shot…

We follow the Story’s a family that looks perfect on the outside, a family that looks like they have all they need, but as we all know looks can be deceiving, they’re all hiding their own secrets whilst hoping their don’t come out!

The story follows cousins, Jonah, Milly and Aubrey – cousins should be the first best friends that any person should have but because of a family disagreement in 1996 they barely know eachother!!

They’re invited to their grandmothers lavish resort for the summer & thats where they start to realise that not everything they’ve been told is true!

With the help of a few people along the way, can they get to the bottom of it and uncover the REAL truth of the ‘Story Legacy’ before its too late?

This book was incredible, it was fast paced and had me hooked, I devoured the story and it provided me with the distraction I needed at the time so a thank you Karen!

🐧❤️