Welcome to the Family was my first book by Cathryn Grant and I really enjoy it.First half of the book we meet Claudia ,who go to her fiancé Daniel home to meet his family and plan the wedding.Second half of the book we meet Renee/Riley who's looking for her sister.

One want to belong to the family,the other one want to find her family.
Will they get what they looking for?

Creepy and disturbing it's not enough to describe this psychological thriller.I suspect quite early the person who is responsible for some evil things that happened,but the twists at the end suprise me.Perfect for psychological thriller fans,you won't be let down with this book.

Thank you netgalley and publisher for ARC.

Welcome to the Family is a slow-burning, psychological thriller that pulls you in with an eerie sense of dread from the start. Cathryn Grant does a fantastic job building suspense as secrets unravel and tensions rise within what seems like a perfect family.

The story is told with a creeping unease that kept me turning the pages, wondering who to trust. The main character’s descent into doubt and paranoia felt believable, and the dynamic between the characters — especially the in-laws — was unsettling in the best way. Grant's writing is sharp and understated, adding to the atmospheric tension.

While the pacing dragged a bit in the middle, and a few twists were somewhat predictable, the payoff was satisfying and left me thinking about the story long after finishing. It’s not an action-heavy thriller, but if you enjoy domestic suspense with psychological depth, this is a solid pick.

Wow! Cathryn Grant does it again! I have read many of her books and enjoyed them all. This just might have become my favorite. The winery, Chateau Noir is like Hotel California. “You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.” Reading this twisted thriller felt like watching a horror movie, yelling at the screen saying “Don't go into the basement!” Red flags accumulate as tensions rise. “ I've observed, in my very limited experience of the world, that all of us are broken. The ones you can trust are those who learn something when life breaks them. Those who don't can't be trusted.” This family is broken, damaged, and deadly. They ask you to enjoy your wine as they plan your demise. What secrets are they hiding, and are they aware that they are not the only ones with secrets? I highly recommend this addictive, intense, shocking thriller! Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC.

Cathryn Grant’s Welcome to the Family is a masterclass in psychological suspense. From the very first page, you’re drawn into the unsettling world of a seemingly perfect family with a dark, unspoken history. The story follows a woman who falls for Daniel and is invited to meet his family—only she’s not just a guest. She’s on a mission. And she knows far more than she lets on.

The tension builds beautifully over a lavish dinner where every glance, every silence, and every evasive answer hints at something sinister. Daniel’s mother is watchful, his brother dangerously charming, and his sister cold and distant. It’s clear they’re hiding something. And as the layers peel back, the truth is far more disturbing than anyone could have imagined.

Grant’s writing is sharp and atmospheric, with a keen eye for emotional nuance. The pacing is tight, the twists are genuinely gasp-worthy, and the protagonist’s voice is compelling—driven by fear, determination, and a quiet strength. What makes this thriller stand out is its psychological depth. It’s not just about what happened, but why—and how far people will go to protect the illusion of a perfect life.

Fans of Gone Girl, The Housemaid, and The Perfect Marriage will find themselves utterly hooked. Welcome to the Family is a dark, elegant page-turner that lingers long after the final chapter.

Thank you to Cathryn Grant, the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this book.

This was a truly gripping story!
I loved how much suspense was involved throughout the entire book.
While some things that happened I kind of had a feeling about, but the ending of the book was a total shock.
I really can't even put into words how captivating this book was. I really could not put it down!

The prologue was good, it hooked me and enticed me to read.
However, everything else was downhill from there.
25% of the book was just literal red flags everywhere. There was hardly any buildup to the characters and the reader was just thrown into a chaotic mess of red flags.
A wandering, flirty brother in law, a crazy possessive and jealous mother, a nonchalant Faith, and my oh my, a boyfriend/fiancé that calls you dramatic and blames whatever you feel on you? Gaslight was written aptly.

No character build up.
Pacing was non existent.
Literally sunk into the deepest of ocean and left my head spinning and in a bad way, unable to accept any of the morally ambiguous and suspicious characters.

Wow!!! Just WOW!!! I didn't, jn z million years see ghe twists coming midway. They are normally at ghe end. What a great read

This one was interesting. The premise is there but it's written in a strong telling style vs building out a story. The first half was great, nicely paced, engaging. The second half became kind of drawn out and monotonous. Overall, there are good twists and suspense. The ending was going ok until about the last page and a half and then it lost me.

This author sure knows how to deliver the punches rightt at the end that you have no clue is coming. Such a thrilling read that had me guessing all the way through. Loved everything about it and highly recommend.

4.25 rounded up!

WOW what a rollercoaster! I was engaged the whole entire time because each chapter left on a cliff-hanger. The twist did not especially at the end. I was completely hooked on this book and highly recommend!

Just wow...
I didn't believe it was going to be a gripping psychological thriller with a jaw dropping twist.

I was captivated and lost in the story.
I had no idea what was going on in this novel but in a good way.

I would recommend this book to someone else. If I could go back and re-read it for the first time I would.

Wow what a crazy family!
I really liked this book and I enjoyed that we got two parts, one from Claudia perspective and one from Renee.
This book kept me guessing,I was always making new theories and in the end,nothing was correct and I love it.
I want to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The characters in this book were super over the top and the writing style utilized a lot of telling instead of showing.

The characters made decisions that made zero sense.

I did read to the end because I wanted to find out what would happen, so that's a point in it's favor.

⭐️⭐️.5 rounded up

First, thank you to NetGalley and the author and publisher for an ARC of this book.

Unfortunately, this one was a miss for me. I think there’s something to be said about subtlety when establishing a creepy family and hateable characters, and the characters in this book were very much the opposite of subtle. I felt like I was being told to hate the characters, instead of being shown why I should and making that decision on my own. I didn’t care about any of them, I found them all to be walking red flags, and because of that, the twists didn’t feel impactful to me. I understand where the gaslighting and meanness became necessary for the development of the story, but at some points it felt inundating and could have benefited from understated nastiness to draw the reader in.

That said, I did want to keep reading and find out how it all wrapped up. The world building and back stories were interesting. I just wasn’t a fan of the characterizations and development overall. I hope this book finds its fans, and I can tell that the author put a lot of work into building this world and this story. It just wasn’t the right fit for me

The start was a little slow for me but once it got going......
A toxic family and a storyline which was dark and twisty.
Great writing from this talented author.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

If you love twisty thrillers with toxic family secrets, you have to read this one! I was on Team Claudia all the way and angry right along with her; these people invited her in, but they had no idea who they were messing with. The whole vibe of the creepy dinner, the fake smiles, and the shady brother had me hooked from page one. Claudia is smart, determined, and refuses to be another missing girl. If you like The Housemaid or Gone Girl, you’ll fly through this just like I did!

Review of ‘Welcome to the Family’ by Cathryn Grant, due to be published on 29 August 2025 by Bookouture.

Claudia is looking forward to meeting her fiancé Daniel’s family and excited to start planning their wedding - but when she arrives at the lavish chateau with its sprawling vineyards, she is met with hostility.

Daniel refuses to acknowledge the way his family are treating her, and gaslights Claudia into thinking it’s all in her head.

When Claudia attempts to get to the bottom of why his family are so hostile, things turn ugly as secrets and lies explode in spectacular fashion.

A gripping psychological thriller that makes you question who is telling the truth and what they stand to gain from keeping up the charade. The end twist, I did not see coming, and was pleasantly surprised. Recommended read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – “Welcome to the Family” by Cathryn Grant
(aka: meet the in-laws… and maybe meet your demise)

You ever have that tiny voice in the back of your head whisper, “Run, girl,” when things seem a little too perfect? Yeah, that voice was SCREAMING the minute I opened this book. Cathryn Grant doesn't just invite you into this family—she locks the door behind you, hands you a glass of wine, and dares you to ask what’s really in it.

We meet our leading lady Claudia (smart, gutsy, and with her own secret agenda) as she steps into the lion’s den: dinner with Daniel’s picture-perfect but absolutely-positively-hiding-something family. From Mama Ice Queen’s death stares, to Flirty Brother Elliott who might just be hotter than he is dangerous (or is it the other way around?), to the sister who looks like she’d rather be in a horror movie than a family portrait—this crew is vibes, and not the good kind.

It’s the kind of story where you’re gripping the pages and muttering “don’t eat that” and “girl, leave the house” while she plays the long game—because she's not some wide-eyed pushover. Oh no. She came for answers. She came to survive.

Grant keeps the suspense simmering like a pot that’s about to boil over. And when it does? Whew. Let’s just say I didn’t see it coming, and I pride myself on sniffing out a twist like a bloodhound on a Netflix binge.

The tension is top-notch, the pacing just fast enough to keep you on edge, and the family secrets? Let’s just say everyone needs therapy. Desperately.

This was dark, twisty, a little outrageous in the best way—and let’s be honest, exactly what I signed up for. Think: dinner with the Addams Family meets “Gone Girl” if she was playing chess with a bunch of liars who thought they were smart.

If you love your thrillers unsettling, juicy, and full of secrets, Welcome to the Family is your next toxic little treat. Just don’t expect a warm hug. You’re more likely to get a knife in the back—and oh baby, it’ll be sharpened with love. 🖤

Thank you Netgalley, Bookouture and the author for the ARC, all opinions are my own.

This thriller grips you from the start and refuses to let go. Each chapter escalates the tension, layering mystery and danger with expert precision. The protagonist's journey is intense and emotionally charged, making every twist hit harder. The atmosphere is dark, cinematic, and completely immersive. It’s the kind of book you lose sleep over—in the best way.

Book Review 📚
Title: Welcome to the Family
Author: Cathryn Grant

I was hooked from the very first page! Daniel’s family gave me an eerie, unsettling feeling—I honestly don’t know how Claudia manages to deal with them. Are they hiding something?
This book was an addictive page-turner full of unexpected twists. The second half had me completely shocked! At times, I felt anxious, even angry, as the story unfolded. And that ending… so satisfying!

Cathryn’s writing is captivating—she really knows how to keep readers engaged from start to finish. I’m definitely looking forward to reading more of her work!


Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and Cathryn so the eARC!!

Publication Date: August 29th 2025
Rating: ✨✨✨✨

#WelcometotheFamily #NetGalley