Thanks to Random House UK, Transworld Publishers and NetGalley for an advance copy of Lost Lambs by Madeline Cash.

The most dysfunctional fictional family I have ever come across. This was chaotic, in the best way. Not a single likeable character to be found. which made it the unhinged, crazy ride that it was.

A brilliant, disastrous story that is darkly funny, fuelled with energy and has a writing style that engages you right til the end. I can’t believe this is debut.

Lost Lambs follows the Flynn family who are not doing great. Bud and Catherine have decided to open their marriage and the lack of stability causes their daughters to go off the rails. Abigail starts dating a guy known as War Crimes Wes, Louise is being groomed online by a terrorist and Harper is being sent to a reform camp due to her behaviour. There is a criminal conspiracy afoot under the name of Paul Alabaster that will cast a shadow over the Flynns.

The main thing I can say about this book is that it is completely absurd and quite humorous. It’s a little silly but is also realistic. For example, Catherine wants to open her marriage because she isn’t satisfied with her life and those feelings are relatable for many people. This was an interesting read although I did get a bit tired of it at the halfway mark. This is unlike anything I’ve ever read though and I think people should give this a go, plus the lamb on the book cover is so cute. 3.5 stars and I’d recommend this.

A stonker of a debut from Madeline Cash, Lost Lambs is a story of the Flynn family, Bud, Catherine, Abigail, Louise and Harper - none of whom are likeable. Still, you find yourself rooting for them nonetheless. I knew from the blurb that this was my kind of book, it packed so much into its sub 250 page count. I knew from page 1 that this would be a 5-star read. Dear reader, I was not disappointed!

It will come as no surprise to hear that I devoured Lost Lambs in one sitting. The story jumps from one Flynn family member to another with a web of interconnected side characters that make for a raucous read (I was snorting and chuckling away immediately!) The lack of chapters (this may be due to the ARC formatting or it may be down to a clever choice by Cash) meant that I just wanted to know what happened next with X or I got sucked into picking back up with someone else's story. There was no way I was putting this book down until I hit the acknowledgements.

Packed full of unexpected twists and turns that you don't see coming, and even a clever linguistic device sprinkled into the text that had me applauding. Lost Lambs is the best kind of book, IMHO. I won't be forgetting this anytime soon. Similar multiple-POV-fiction reads that I can’t stop thinking about similar to Lost Lambs would be: The Hole We're In, At The Table, Hope, How To Sleep at Night and The Bee Sting.

I wish I could read this for the first time all over again, but I will make do with listening to the audiobook for the first time when it's released next year. Thank you so much to Transworld Publishers, Doubleday, Random House UK, Madeline Cash and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Lost Lambs before it's published on 5th February 2026! I can't wait for everyone to read this! Off to preorder my copy now! And Madeline Cash I can't wait to see what you write next, I will be buying no matter what!

A brilliant novel about a truly dysfunctional family. Catherine and Bud Flynn’s marriage is in serious trouble. Trapped in a conventional life with a stable job in accounts for Bud, three children and a house funded by Catherine’s parents, their lives are far from what they dreamed of when they were young. A gradual descent into mundanity has taken its toll and they’ve decided to open up their marriage. There’s no doubt that the three Flynn children are at their most vulnerable in this evolving situation - beautiful and rebellious Abigail, child genius Harper and middle child Louise whose loneliness makes her a target for online radicalisation.

I found this novel appallingly fascinating. While none of the members of the Flynn family were especially likeable, their actions and the decisions that they made for better or worse felt profoundly human. Catherine, for example, had a strong desire to re-discover the person that she felt she once was. She didn’t just want to be an artist, she wanted to feel seen as an artist. Yet all decisions have consequences and in pursuing something of importance to her, she neglects her family.

Lost Lambs just got better and better as I kept reading. As the plot pivoted in unexpected directions, I often found myself wondering what was going to happen next. The writing style was so engaging that I’m still thinking about what the future holds for the Flynn family now that I’ve finished the novel. This is a five-star read which tackles complex family dynamics head-on and is certainly a book I’d recommend.

Thank you so much to Random House UK, Transworld Publishers and NetGalley for sharing this eARC with me in exchange for an honest review.