Wow. This one sucked me in right from the git-go. Daniel and Claudia are in love. So, Claudia travels to the family estate so she can meet Mom and the siblings, and begin planning their wedding. When Claudia arrives at the estate, and Mom greets her at the door….well, I know I’m in for the long haul.

This family dynamic is cult-like. The mother, Janice, rules the family with an iron fist and controls every aspect of her grown adult children’s lives. Her reaction to Claudia at the moment they meet…I was like “what the hell?” So I was all in because I did actually need to find out what the hell!
Mom is vicious and the 3 kids are her puppets. They are all so secretive and reticent about the family’s past (Dad’s death, Elliott’s wife, etc). When Claudia begins to ask perfectly reasonable questions about these things, the family becomes progressively more ugly and hostile towards her.

At the end of Part 1, I was left hanging, just before Part 2 came on with a bang of a curveball that I never saw coming!

A gripping psychological thriller with twists I didn’t see coming, and a family of crazy characters you love to hate!

I recommend this book and I will definitely read more of Cathryn Grant!
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this advanced readers copy!

Whilst I really enjoyed this book from Cathryn Grant I couldn't shake the feeling that I had read it before and that honestly spoilt it a little.
Its a great read though.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 | ARC Review – Welcome to the Family by Cathryn Grant

Cathryn Grant has delivered an addictive psychological thriller that had me gasping more than once. This was a 5-star read for me—gripping, twisty, and impossible to put down.

There were three big WTF moments that completely sealed the deal:

1️⃣ The ending to Part 1 – I was left staring at my Kindle thinking, “Wait… WHAT just happened?” The perfect hook to propel me into the next section at lightning speed.

2️⃣ The reveal – Absolutely blindsided me. Just when I thought I had figured out where the story was going, Cathryn threw a curveball that changed everything.

3️⃣ The family dynamics – Tense, toxic, and deliciously dysfunctional. Every conversation felt like it was brimming with secrets and ulterior motives, making the tension crackle on every page.

Grant’s pacing is spot on—short, addictive chapters that keep you saying “just one more.” By the end, my heart was racing and my brain was still trying to process the tangled web of lies.

Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A bit of a slow start to the book, but part 2 was so fast paced I couldn't stop turning the pages. I had no idea who to trust at any stage. I did guess the main culprit quite early on, but each character had a surprising reveal which as really fun.

The twists land hard without feeling cheap. While some seasoned thriller readers might predict one or two turns, there’s at least one jaw-dropper that will catch even the most cynical reader off guard. The ending ties up the tension in a way that’s both satisfying and chilling. Loved this book

Daniel seems like the perfect man, but when Claudia visits his family's isolated chateau, a deeply unsettling atmosphere takes hold. His mother is strangely hostile, and his siblings, Abigail and Elliot, are bizarrely secretive.
Why can't anyone leave? What happened to Elliot's wife, Tina? We are screaming at Claudia to run as there are more red flags here than a warning label factory!
As Claudia begins to question everything, the slow-burn tension of the first half explodes into a thrilling race for the truth.
I read this is one sitting and it's perfect for a day of switching off from the world and immersing yourself in an interesting thriller.
My thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. This is my own opinion.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I wizzed through this book in just over a day and was hooked! I definitely see some similarities to Freida McFadden thrillers.

I do think it was a bit predictable after around the half way mark, but it still never lost momentum for me. Some sections felt a bit overwritten as the same descriptions were given over and over, particularly from Claudia's POV. There was a lot of going in loops about how messed up Daniel's family was, but it seemed to get better in the latter half.

The ending tied up things nicely but it is left open for this to be a series. I don't fully understand the end direction but I'd definitely be keen to read another book by Cahtryn Grant!

My favourite element of the book was just how fast-paced it was and how weird and dysfunctional the family was. All of them are so weird and the way Daniel acts was just so off-putting!!

Big thank you to NetGalley & Bookouture for providing this ARC!

It was a fun book and a perfect beach read when you on vacation. I loved the writing style. It was my first Cathryn Grant book and it did not disappoint.

Wow—this book was full of surprises! Some of the plot twists completely blindsided me, which made it such a fun and addictive read. Without giving too much away, Cathryn Grant does a phenomenal job building an atmosphere that keeps you on edge from start to finish.

The family dynamics? Absolutely bizarre—in the best way. If you think your in-laws are a little out there, buckle up, because after reading this, you might just feel grateful for them. This story is a wild ride of secrets, tension, and jaw-dropping reveals.

And that ending? Totally out of left field, leaving me wondering if there’s a sequel in the works. Here’s hoping there is!

**4.5 Stars**

✨ARC Review✨
📖 Welcome to the Family
✍️ Cathryn Grant
📅 Publication: August 29, 2025

𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬
They welcomed her into their home, but they would soon regret it.
From the moment she met Daniel, she knew she would marry him. Now, meeting his family for the first time, she forces polite smiles while silently praying. It is important they like her, and even more important they do not discover the real reason she is there.
During a lavish dinner, their perfect manners feel rehearsed. Daniel’s mother watches her every move. His brother’s charm carries an unsettling edge. His sister remains silent, avoiding any questions about the family. They are hiding something, but she already knows the truth.
She is not the first woman Daniel or his brother Elliott have brought home. The others disappeared. She intends to be the one who makes it out alive.
She will uncover the secrets this perfect house is built on, and when she does, they will wish they had never opened their door to her.

𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
What fascinated me about this book was the way the tension didn’t crash in; it seeped under your skin. Even in the quietest moments, the unease held firm. The gaslighting was so intense, I found myself doubting reality right alongside the main character, who slowly came to understand she was being emotionally trapped. They never shouted, never struck, but the Whitman family’s control was absolute. They lulled people into compliance with charm, predictable rhythms, and a false kindness that pressed down like a weight. That unsettling, cult-like undercurrent makes you question every smile and gesture. The twist lands exactly where it should, rooted in the characters and the story’s emotional weight. By the final page, some truths come into sharp focus, while others remain just blurry enough to haunt you long after you close the book.

Thank You @Netgalley and @Bookouture, for allowing me to review this book.

Where has Cathryn Grant been my whole life? Why is this the first book I've ever seen by her? I need to read more by her and blow up my social media pages promoting her books because WOW. The deception, the red flags, the gaslighting, the drama!!!! I really felt like I was reading a Freida McFadden book because i could not put this one down. Grab the popcorn because there is so much to unpack with this one. The characters are awful in the best way possible. The twists are top tier. The fast paced plot leaves you unable to put it down. The most toxic family I've ever read in a book. Loved this one from start to finish and I need to read more from Cathryn ASAP.

This book is not for me. It was tedious, predictable, and very repetitive with terribly written characters. I DNF'd at 37%.

I found this book tedious and repetitive. The characters' reactions were not believable. I ended up abandoning it just over halfway through.

2.5 stars. Claudia and Daniel are newly engaged and visiting Daniels family for the first time. They are a tough crowd, incredibly rude, and unaccepting of Claudia immediately for what appears to be no specific reason. Daniel’s brother Elliot keeps aggressively flirting with her, and his sister Abigail is so short and has no intention of getting to know Claudia. She has to find a way to make it through her long visit at his family’s house without going insane herself.
Even the synopsis is confusing..did I miss something? Before Claudia even arrived to Daniel’s family’s house she knew they were harboring secrets and had made other girlfriends/wives disappear?? I did not catch this in the book at all. If that’s the case why would she show up..? I did not enjoy this book. Very much a popcorn thriller with no depth.. All of the characters were insufferable, and their motives did not make sense. I will say, in part 2 the pace & suspense picked up. The twists were decent but not shocking at all.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for a copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Creepy in the best way! From the start, this one kept me on the edge—and it just kept building. The tension simmered until everything snapped, and I was on done! I finished this one in one sitting. I am a new fan of Catheryn Grant!

It’s one of those stories where you don’t trust anyone, and by the end, you’re still questioning what was real. Totally satisfying.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book!

The storyline was wild! I couldn't figure out who the psychopath was...and the twists kept coming!


Definitely a must read!!

⭐4.5- thank you NetGalley for the arc and the opportunity to read this before the release date (29th August).
This book was absolutely insane and I couldn't put it down. I honestly felt like I was watching a movie or a tv show and it was so easy to imagine the whole eery vibe of the house and the odd family members who were hiding secrets and never wanted to talk about the past.
The gaslighting from each family member was insane and honestly I felt like I myself started to believe the things they were saying.
I DID NOT see the part 2 coming at all and I finished the rest of the book in one sitting because I just had to find out what was going on!
I was slightly confused with the ending? and almost wanted a bit more..
Nonetheless, I highly highly recommend this book if you are looking for an intense, page turning and addictive thriller.

Welcome to the Family is a brilliantly crafted psychological thriller that had me hooked from the first page. The atmosphere is tense, the characters are unnerving in the best way, and the sense of dread builds steadily throughout.

The twists genuinely surprised me, and the writing kept me fully immersed. Nothing feels safe, and that’s exactly what I want in a thriller like this.

Dark, clever, and completely addictive. One of my favorite thrillers this year.

I really enjoyed getting to read this book, it had that psychological thriller element that I was wanting and enjoyed getting into this world and characters. I was invested in what was going on with the main character and how the rest of the characters worked in this universe. Cathryn Grant was able to create a strong writing style and was glad it was everything that I was wanting. I was invested in what was going on and was excited to read more from Cathryn Grant.

10 stars. This book is going to be huge I just know it.

Thank you NG & Cathryn Grant
-Welcome to the Family-

“I’m Going to uncover the secrets this perfect family holds”

From the very first page, you’re hooked. The slow build up to the storyline is brilliant and it was somehow masterfully wrapped in fast paced. Hard balance to do & it was done with this book.

It’s so triggering when these people were literally trying to gaslight the main character whenever she tried to voice how she was feeling or even ask something. “You’re dramatic. I don’t like drama. You’re tired”. I wanted to scream at them for her.

I as a reader started to feel gaslit if I’m being honest lol

And when it got to part II I was fist bumping because YAAAAAAASSSSSSS. “They were going to face my wrath”

This book was PHENOMENAL. Page turner and each chapter has you wanting more. The twists??? Even if you guess one, you certainly are in for a treat with the others.

Goodreads-https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7784730104