Bestselling author Karen M. McManus is back with another electrifying thriller rooted in sinister secrets, fractured families and an inheritance that some would even kill for...

Satisfyingly suspenseful with a plot twist only Karen M. McManus can pull off, The Cousins will be devoured by McManus fans and new readers alike.

But did it reach the jaw-dropping heights of the renowned One of Us Is Lying series? For me, not so much. The action felt disconnected, the pacing slow yet skilfully measured, the characters flat, and an ending that felt rushed and underwhelming.. The Cousins is more cosy mystery then it is gripping thriller. But I'm blaming it on the grand (unrealistic?) expectations that I craved from McManus's previous books. Just a quick scroll on Goodreads and you'll be inundated with 5 star reviews for this book, so a worthy read for many.

What’s one thing that will cause huge conflicts in relationships? Money. And especially in families, money can cause huge rifts. That’s the case for the Story family as well. Three cousins, Milly, Aubrey, and Jonah, are visiting their estranged grandmother over the summer after a mysterious invitation. Their parents were cut off over twenty years ago, leaving only a note: “You know what you did”. But do they? The kids want to figure out why they were invited and what happened all those years ago.

I really like the mystery and the build-up in the story. If you pay attention to the details, you can figure out what’s going to happen, but these details are so subtlely woven in, they’re easy to miss. I think this is what makes a great suspense story, and it encourages multiple read-throughs because, by the end, you know you missed out on some cues. Reading it again will give you the full story.

All of the characters are interesting with their own quirks and motivations. It’s hard to pick a favourite since every character has something I like about them. Even the supporting characters like Hazel and Archer are nice to read. You can’t help but root for the Story kids as they try to find who’s behind this.

I don’t want to say much about the second half of the book because it might spoil things, but I feel like this is how the story was meant to be. It makes sense, no character acts out of place, and the resolution feels like justice.

It’s hard to find something I didn’t like about the book. So it won’t surprise you that I’m giving The Cousins five stars. It’s a fast-paced story, with great characters, and a satisfying ending. It might not be the most surprising ending, but it’s good.

Oh wow, I cannot believe how much I have enjoyed this fast paced thriller! Teenagers Milly, Aubery and Johan are sent an invitation to work on the island where their very wealthy gradmother lives, after not hearing from her or ever seeing her, their whole lives. For years they’ve lived with the knowledge that their parents were disinherited by their grandmother but they’ve never known why. Now the three of them have the chance to find out, but is their grandmother so willing to share the truth and what will happen when they finally find out?

I’m a big fan of McManus’s previous books One of Us is Lying and One of Us is Next so when I was offered the amazing chance to read this book I had a feeling I would enjoy it! The chapters alternate between Milly, Aubery and Jonah, with each of the cousins having different back stories and motives for visiting the island where their rich grandmother lives. None of the cousins are close and it’s exciting to see how the three get to know each other, the dynamic between them and what’s happening with those they meet on the island.

Each of the cousins is different, but I enjoyed all of the characters and their different stories. It was easy to like all of them and easy to follow the whole story despite the constant changing of viewpoint with each chapter. In fact having the viewpoint change between each of the cousins led to more interesting things being revealed such as what their parents are like in the present and how it ties in with another side story that takes place in the past. As the plot moves forward it stays at a good pace, each chapter leading to more exciting moments. There are so many twists and turns in this story and I love how the author just keeps you constantly guessing at what is really happening. I have to say I’m glad that I was kept in constant suspense and never guessed at the truth until it was revealed!

I love the way this story unfolds, the idea of the rich grandmother and the strange letter she left her children with that cut ties with them. It’s this aspect, the setting on the island, as well as the fourth point of view chapters, which begin later in the book and alternate between every few chapters that follow the three cousisns, that really made this plot all the more exciting to read. The chapters set in the past show us what was happening back in 1996 with the parents of the cousins and in particular Milly’s mother.

The story is just amazing throughout and the ending is both exciting and interesting. So many things are revealed in just the right way and the ending is so gripping and dramatic! I won’t reveal anything but I just love the way this story ends with that exciting reveal at the house and what happens, and how all the characters finally end up. The last few pages wrap up the story nicely and I do love how the last page just keeps you on the edge of your seat too with that last little part. The book has a small family tree at the front showing you the Story family, the grandmother, her disinherited children and their kids (the cousins). I found this very helpful, especially when I just started reading this book as I was still remembering all of the characters. There’s nothing too upsetting in this book. There is some swearing, a few uses of the f word but not too often and it fits in with the story and characters speech.

Overall this is such an exciting read! The story following the three cousins, how their relationships develop and how everything works out is just so exciting and engrossing that my heart was just all over the place with this book! I found myself unable to tear myself away from the pages, constantly spending every moment I could reading this and even staying up late at night to finish the book instead of sleeping, it is that good! I feel like I want to re-read this book already, although the surprises may not be as exciting as they were the first time, it’s just written so well and I just love how McManus keeps you on the edge of your seat, constantly guessing at what’s happening, that I just can’t wait to read more of her work and I can’t recommend this book enough to everyone! Seriously, if you’re looking for an exciting thriller that’ll keep you engrossed and guessing to the very end, then this is just perfect!

The Characters:

The characters in this book were very interesting to read about. Each had their own secrets that they didn't want to reveal, and each person's story was unraveled slowly throughout the book. The three main characters of this book are three cousins: Milly, Aubrey, and Jonah, who haven't seen each other since they were children, and have been invited to their grandmother's island out of the blue. Milly was a very headstrong character, who knew what she wanted, Aubrey was more timid but still very smart and strong in her own way, and Jonah seemed to be uncaring but deep down held a lot of feelings towards the situation. I liked that we saw the relationship between the cousins developing a lot throughout this book, especially after so much time apart. I was also very interested by the family history of the Storys. The four Story children (the parents/uncles and aunts of the cousins) had been disinherited 24 years prior and there were little chapters throughout about that year and what happened, all leading up to the final moments of the book.

The Story:
I enjoyed this story and its pacing. It is a lot slower paced than McManus' other books but I quite enjoyed that. I found that the way we got small pieces of information throughout the book and were never given every single detail was great. I liked trying to guess the mystery of the whole book too, and found myself shocked by quite a few moments in this book. This book wasn't perfect but it was a fun summer mystery, which had a lot of secrets.

Final Thoughts:

Overall I really enjoyed this book, and read it really quickly, which seems to be a theme with McManus' books. I liked the slower pace of this and the setting of the island in the summer. I found the characters to be intriguing but there were some that I would have liked to have seen more of. I ended up rating this book 4/5 stars on Goodreads as I really enjoyed reading it, and I'm excited to read more from Karen M. McManus in the future!

There are so many elements to not just this story but the way Karen M. McManus chose to tell it. This reviewer cannot tell you what to expect if you have read this author before, but if you were looking for a place to start with her books it’s definitely worth a pre-order or checking with your library to see if they will have a copy (or copies).

The setting is just what is promised in the summary, and to take it a bit further, is exactly what one would expect from a New England resort destination. But what makes it stand out among the vast sea of New England mansion or resort-based stories is the locations across the island in which most of the conversations, confrontations, and discoveries take place. It all seemed a little cliché at first, and some readers still might think it is, but McManus certainly gave each dwelling, restaurant, and beach its own distinguishing factors, so they feel like part of this story instead of all stories with a similar base setting (New England).

Right from the start, the reader is introduced to the main characters, Milly, Aubrey, and Jonah, as well as the side characters who play almost as big of a part as they do. Everyone is a distinct person, and very much products of their environments. Those environments are a bit dramatic across the board, but this fortunately does not diminish the believability of the plot. Not all of the characters from the entire cast are immediately likeable, but it’s impossible not to root for many of them, particularly our protagonists, as the mysterious past and chaos of the present unfold.

And unfold it does. Using alternating perspectives (from each cousin) and a narrative from the past, anticipation over the darkness and tension promised in the summary continues to mount with each chapter. More secrets are exposed, some mysteries are further complicated, and moments of shock and awe crop up when they are least expected. This back and forth adds so many layers to the story and to the characters’ lives, but never does the story feel muddled or confusing. The pace at which the author chose to write works so well for the story, too. It is quick but not rushed; it makes you want to read faster but still allows the reader to savor descriptions and scenes to their fullest extent.

It was quite satisfying to see the protagonists—all around seventeen years of age—undergo realistic character development while navigating the pressures put on them by their families. They don’t completely mature by the end of the book, but they all take steps to make small changes based on things they learned about family, forgiveness, standing up for oneself, and standing up for others. The final reveal and event of the book was a surprise, and it happened so quickly yet tragically that it was hard not to feel wonderfully overwhelmed as the truth came crashing down. Just like the rest of the book, the epilogue is not void of surprises, and it might make you wonder if the story is actually over.

Whether it is actually over or it isn’t, The Cousins will make you want to hunker down and try to solve the mystery before the Story family does, but don’t get too cozy; this roller coaster is full of drama, lies, and learning who the people closest to you really are.

Another great read from Karen McManus. It took me a bit to get into however, the twists and turns throughout did not disappoint. Hopefully there will be a follow on to see what happens to the lives of the characters once the book ends.

I read this in one day. ONE DAY! The twists and turns had me completely hooked and I truly didn't see anything coming. I love a good familial story and this was the ultimate mysterious family drama. How could a mother completely shun all four of her children? How could those four siblings seem to want nothing to do with each other? Is everything really about family, or just getting written back into the will? These three teens are being dropped on a small island with no real knowledge of what is waiting for them.

The ambiance of the island was so atmospheric, from the resort to the family estate. Each new person on the island we met were more and more intriguing. I'm still shook over the different events and characters that slowly evolved into this family's story as it progressed. You don't know who you can trust or who is telling the truth when everyone is pretty terrible.

The chemistry between the three cousins was so palpable, it just jumped off the page. It felt so authentic and it developed really well throughout the book. The multiple perspectives really gave readers great insight into their lives separate from the island. It was especially compelling to hear about what happened in the past, before the four Story siblings were banished from their home. It's hard not to give any spoilers, but the relationships that formed were all so special and unique for each person.

This was such a bright spot in a rather dim time for book releases. I'm a huge fan of all of Karen M. McManus's books, but I think this one is my favorite. It's a departure from her previous work, but still holds the same essence. This kind of solidified a new trope I seem to enjoy in mysteries and thrillers: a story enclosed in a specific area like a small town, a summer camp, or an island. Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

4.5

Book source ~ Tour

Milly, Aubrey, and Jonah Story are the grandkids of Mildred Story who disinherited her own four children twenty-four years ago. The kids, Adam, Anders, Allison, and Archer, never understood why. They only received a letter through the family lawyer that said, “You know what you did.” But they don’t. Or so they say. When the now teenaged grands each get an invitation to work the summer at the family resort, they are resentful, but also a bit curious about the grandmother they never met. So they go (with much pushing from their parents) and, whoa boy, they have intrigue coming out of their ass. Not literally.

Strap yourselves in because this is going to be a wild ride. Not so much action-packed, but full of questions, a few answers, more questions, holy shit moments, and finally answers. Wow. There’s a few spots where the story drags just a tiny bit, throwing me off my stride, but on the whole, it flows smooth as delicious frozen custard. Mmmmm. Where was I? Oh yeah! The cousins are fully fleshed out (and likeable!), there are multiple POVs, so I was able to see it in 360º technicolor and the plot, while being a teensy bit over the top, is still a doozy. I highly recommend this twisty-turny YA Mystery.

Ooooh that was GOOD! Karen McManus has got to be the undisputed queen of Ya mystery and she once again rules supreme with her latest illstallment 'The Cousins'.

This twisted family drama takes place twenty four years after the Story matriarch disinherits her children by having a note sent to each with just one sentence..."You know what you did". After no contact for over two decades, their own children have been invited out of the blue to spend the summer working on their estranged Grandmothers island. Enter Milly, Aubrey and Jonah. They haven't seen each other for years but they soon have to work together to uncover the truth of what happened to the Story family all those years ago.

I knew this was going to be good but I think it might be my favourite Karen McManus yet! I thought the use of the flashback chapters worked really well in slowly revealing the events of 1996 and how the consequences are at work in the present day. The three cousins themselves were individually interesting, each bringing their own secrets to add to the messy family drama but also fantastic as a group, I loved the evolving relationship between them and the giant helping of bickering along the way. Top Marks!! 

Thank you Netgalley for proving me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! It's a fun, twisty read filled with secrets!

Three teenage cousins who hardly know each other have been summoned to their long lost Grandmother's to work for the summer. Their Grandmother cut her 4 children, their parents and uncle, out of her life 24 years before so this is the first time they have ever met her. Oh yeah and she's super rich and owns an island!

All 3 of the cousins are likeable with individual personalities. Milly was my favourite but I really liked all three of them and how their friendship delevoped throughout the story. The story alternates through each cousin's point of view which allows you to get to know them and their story quite well. There is also a fourth point of view from Allison, Milly's mum, which sheds some light on events that happened in the past!

McManus's books are like bingeworthy Netflix dramas. I read this one over two nights because just as one secret was revealed another one would rear its head! It's like a teenage soap opera, yes it borders on the ridiculous at times and is very far fetched but I would actually say it's perfect escapism for this current climate, not too taxing but gripping and addictive.

This is perfect for the teenage audience, and older of course. There's very little sexual or violent content which I like about it. Sometimes YA can be a bit dark and I wonder what age these books are written for! But this one will happily be passed onto my 10 year old in a year or two and I think she will love it as much as I did!

Oh Karen McManus, where were you when I was 14, stealing my mum's Danielle Steel books 😂

I was delighted when my Net Galley wish was granted and I was able to read this thrilling book.

The story line of family feuds and disinherited children is nothing new, but Karen McManus manages to take it and develop a plot that keeps you reading. This book has so many false turns and unexpected twists that even at 80 % of the way through when I felt most things had been wrapped up, there were more surprises to come!

Anders, Allison and Adam, are 3 spoilt children who, once disinherited by their mother, seem to have spent their time lamenting the loss of their future fortune and make bad life choices. They claim to have no idea what led to their dismissal from the island many years previously. In this novel, we meet their children: Aubrey, Jonah and Milly, who have been unexpectedly summonsed back to their Grandmother's island and their parents are all hoping this will be a way back into the family fold and a share of the family fortune. Relationships all round are fractured and dysfunctional. Many of the characters are not who their initially seem to be and from the first moment I was hooked and needed to read on.

Gull Cove Island sounds idyllic, yet, as history is revealed it has its own dark illicit secrets which have set this family on a path of self destruction.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I was irritated by the weakness displayed by the parents' of the three children and I think that Jonah, Milly and Aubrey needed to get away from their tainted, disillusioned parents to really learn who they might be growing up to be. The ending is satisfying and seems appropriate once the murky details of past actions are uncovered!

The Cousins is set in Mildred Story's fancy resort on Gull Cove Island. Rumours have roamed on the island about the reasons Mildred disowned her children twenty-five years ago however the reasons are still unknown. When Mildred's three grandchildren receive a surprising letter inviting them to work at the resort during their summer break, everyone is keen to understand why she made contact after so many years and if there is something sinister behind her actions.

Family drama and tension is at the center of The Cousins and a big chunk of the first half of the book focuses on the three cousins trying to under the relationship between their parents and their grandmother. The messy family dynamic was at times difficult to follow, especially as there were many characters introduced in both timelines however once I learnt the relationship between the characters it became easier to discern.

I often struggle with YA Thrillers as the plot is usually too oversimplified however there was plenty of action in The Cousins. The twists were unexpected and the ending quite unpredictable. The alternating chapters from 1996 to now allowed for progression of both storylines and created an ever increasing tension as more secrets were revealed.

Although there were some moments which made me cringe, The Cousins was overall both engaging and enjoyable. It felt like there were many paths the plot could take but I was ultimately satisfied with the ending and outcome. It was a quick read for me and I can see many readers speeding through it.

Many thanks to Dave at TheWriteReads for providing an advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Wow, what a thrilling ride!
Couldn't put this down, there were twists galore and I loved them all! I'm becoming a huge fan of this author and can't wait to see what she comes up with next!
Great characters that had excellent personalities, I definitely identified with Aubrey!
A couple of my questions at the end weren't answered as clearly as I hoped, but there is no way this book deserved less than 5 stars!
Highly recommended!

This is without a doubt, my favourite Karen M McManus book yet! It was gripping from the offset and relatively pacey. A very fun and entertaining read.

I really loved the setting of this one, it was nice to have a YA set outside of highschool and I liked the concept of it these rich, privileged kids being forced to go to this small island during the summer. There is lots of family drama and lots of mystery around why Granny Mildred disinherited the family 24 years prior when everyone swears they don’t have a clue what for!

The characters were also brilliant and I loved them all. There was some great development for the characters and their relationships to each other too.

It was really fun to read and very clever, I couldn’t figure out where it was going! If you like Karen’s other books, I think this one will definitely be for you and also, if you enjoy a fun, non-cheesy YA outside of a high school setting! Definitely worth a read!

This could just as easily be a general mystery rather than YA save for the main characters being teens, it’s written at a mature level. I took me a few chapters to gel with the main characters but once they went to the island I got increasingly absorbed in both the characters and the weird estrangement between the cousins and their grandmother. There were some good twists and secrets along the way but for me no huge shocks overall but it was good to see the story play out by following the clues. Overall this has a great cast, intriguing setting and some very interesting history.

I loved both 'One of us is Lying' and it's follow-up, so I was beyond excited to get hold of a copy of this. It really did live up to my (high!) expectations - with a story that felt just as cinematic as McManus' previous books. The legacy of the Story family plays our really nicely, full of all sorts of unexpected twists and turns. Think Gossip Girl meets murder mystery. If you liked 'Beautiful Strangers' or 'S.T.A.G' - then I think this is one for you!

Milly, Aubrey, and Jonah Story are cousins, but they barely know each other, and they've never even met their grandmother. Each of their parents had been disinherited around 25 years ago when they received a letter saying that she knew what they did. Since then they have all lost touch with each other. When the cousins each receive a letter themselves asking for them to work at their grandmother's resort for the summer, the parents all agree that they must go. The entire Story family has secrets. Whatever pulled them apart years ago isn't over--and this summer, the cousins will learn everything.
I love Karen’s books and this one did not disappoint. An easy yet addictive read, filled with twists and turns throughout, I couldn't put it down.
With multiple character points of views but written in a way that it doesn't become confusing, it helps to build their stories. Aubrey was possibly my favourite character, starting off mousey and shy with not much going for her, she had a really nice character arc where she finally found out who she was. I liked the addition of Alison’s chapters, Milly’s mum, it gave us the background story filled with secrets that made me keep guessing and wanting to find out more.
Overall, a brilliant book with some wonderful relatable characters and plenty of twists that you don't see coming, I can't wait to read what else Karen has in store for us.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Milly, Aubrey and Jonah Story are invited to spend the summer working at their grandmother's resort. However this is no 'ordinary' invitation since they all know the story of how their grandmother dismissed, and disinherited, their parents, along with their Uncle ...., with the single sentence "You know what you did".
Millicent was true to her word and has not be in touch with any of her family until now!
The three teenagers redetrmined to find out what happened 18 years earlier but they are not prepared for what they discover. Could it be that some secrets are better left that way, secret?
Another amazing novel from Karen McManus with many twists and turns that will keep you reading until the ultimate climax!

This book was my most anticipated read of the year. And I have read previous works of the author which I absolutely enjoyed reading.
This book has family drama at its peak with so many mysteries. So if you enjoy family drama the book is for you!

Characters-
We have three main characters of the story, Milly, Aubrey and Jonah. The three of them are “Cousins” and get invited to a resort owned by their grandmother.Also their grandmother has banished these kids' parents from the estate. So the parents think it is a good opportunity to let the children go there so they might get a portion of the estate. All the characters in the book are so uniquely written. One common thing between Milly and Aubrey is that we get to see that they want to prove that they are good enough for their parents and the so called legacy of their. Milly and Aubrey are very different, Milly has a strong character whereas Aubrey blames herself. Aubrey had the most character development in the book.

The Story-
The story was the best part, I finished reading a book in a day. Which I didn’t want to do but well, the story build up was way too interesting to not finish it as soon as possible. The story is crafted so well. ALSO THE ENDING OF THE BOOK WAS NOT FAIR. Overall I loved the story and characters. This was one of my favourite read of the year.

I’m a huge Karen M. McManus fan. She just knows how to write a good mystery, one that needs to be read in one sitting. I always think I know where the story is going and yet somehow each time McManus manages to catch me off guard.

The Cousins follows three characters; Aubrey, Milly and Jonah. Years ago their parents were cut off by their mother and each claims they have no idea why but secrets always have a way of resurfacing.

The setting of this Martha’s Vineyard wannabe island of the rich and famous was so much fun. Honestly this whole book was fun. You have the exclusiveness, a bitter grandma with a grudge and her bit**-pack along with the nice townies caught in the crossfire. We even got a fancy gala thrown in. It had all the makings of a classic “rich people problems” story but McManus gave it her classic touch and ended up making it her own. It’s definitely far from typical with a cast of characters who are anything but conceited, cold or stereotypical.

Milly, Jonah and Aubrey meshed so well together and I loved them all! Aubrey started out so sweet. She wasn’t one to rock the boat and her development was so nice to see. Ironically I saw a lot of myself in her so I really felt a connection to her beyond just having the same name. Jonah started out as a bit of a prick with a chip on his shoulder but he grew on me by the end, especially when we learned his story. Milly was one I was unsure of. I thought she was going to be this comes-from-money sharp tongued brat use to getting her way but that was not the case at all. Their relationship and seeing them come together was my favorite part of this book.

That mystery though was brutal. I was a few chapters in and I thought I had it all figured out. To be fair I had half of the mystery solved, but this book just goes to show that never give up on a mystery halfway through. It might surprise you in the end.

If you’re a McManus fan you won’t be disappointed in The Cousins. Even if you aren’t a fan, if love a good mystery that will keep you guessing until the end I highly recommend picking this one up. I actually think it’s her best book yet with a touch more of maturity than her previous novels. The ending wasn’t open-ended per say, but I’m definitely hoping we get to see a bit more of the Story family in the future.