This was such a fantastic read about the complexities of life, family, love, loss, identity, and so much more. My emotions were all over the place and I felt frustrated, proud, and disappointed at the 3 main characters at different times. There is so much to relate to in this book and it’s full of very relevant themes going on in our world right now. The character development was fantastic and there were some action and thrills towards the end. This book is truly unforgettable. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Review will be posted on Instagram and Amazon on pub day and links added to NetGalley.

I enjoyed this family drama about grief and how we all cope differently with loss. The prologue does a great job of pulling in the reader, creating suspense about what is to come. Indie’s story went in a different direction than I was expecting, but I was relieved it wasn’t the darker path I’d imagined. The novel seemed like a slow burn for perhaps a touch too long, but once the drama surrounding Kate’s part of the story began, it was gangbusters till the end. I also enjoyed the alternating POVs, both of which had strong voices.

Comparisons to Espach and Lombardo are valid. Espach’s Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance came to mind while reading this novel.

I will post a modified review on Instagram and Goodreads close to or on pub date.

*I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed the plot and the complex parent/child relationship. However, this felt like two different stories. The first half centers on going (or not going) to church, the family’s status in town, and being a “citidiot” - someone who moves to a small town but takes their big-city-life habits with them. The second half zooms in on the three main characters and their personal lives. I suppose this is reflective of the plot because they are isolated at this point, but the full change in setting and interactions felt disconnected. One character’s choice influences this turn, too, but it never felt resolved. While reading, I wished for a narrator from Maddy’s family to give a full perspective, or possibly Maddy’s POV from the afterlife as the events unfold.
I was not prepared for the full dive into online cults, but I liked how it was an interest Indie had with Maddy, so it was more believable that this space is somewhere she would find comfort. It was such a large part of the book, I feel it should’ve been referenced in the synopsis. These people also listen to podcasts a lot.
Here’s my take on Ethan, the father and husband: He is a woke hipster history teacher stereotype, and neither of his family members feels loved by him. He is too closed off to deal with feelings and then just runs away instead of talking about his own.
All the characters acknowledge Kate is a real estate agent, but she never works, even though the book spans months of the characters’ lives. I couldn’t tell if her blog was really listing the homes, or if they were just part of her clever titles.
The copy of the story I read was a “document”, not a complete ebook. I’m not sure if this is why the formatting was off, but when it came to Kate’s posts, there was no indication where the blog posts ended and where the prose began. A font change, white space, anything would have helped because both the blog posts and books included stream of consciousness. Kate has a community of followers she interacts with, despite stating how lonely and friendless she is all the time, and I have a suspicion that one specific poster is actually her daughter posting her real feelings.
About 30% of the way through the book, I thought I figured out the significance of the cover, but found a new meaning for the image by the end of the story. I like it when there are layers of meaning to an aspect of the book! Overall, the characters and their turmoil were engaging. It was compelling to read about inward grief and how helpless you feel when you can’t help your own child.

No One You Know: A Novel by Emma Tourtelot
Published by She Writes Press — thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my gifted ARC. All opinions are mine, except the ones Indie whispered into my soul through the pages.

Emma Tourtelot’s No One You Know cracked open my ribcage, snuck into the creaky corners of motherhood, teenage grief, and performative small-town living, and somehow made the whole mess feel—dare I say—beautifully bearable. This debut is intimate, brutal, poetic, and yes, occasionally funny in the way that only the truth can be when it’s been steeped in just the right amount of regret and good coffee. It’s about what happens when the picture-perfect life (read: filtered within an inch of its life) shatters, and everyone’s left stepping barefoot through the shards, pretending they’re fine.

The story unfolds through dual perspectives: Kate, a midlife momfluencer and real estate queen of the Hudson Valley, who is honestly trying her best, and her daughter Indie, a 15-year-old dealing with the sudden death of her best friend by spiraling into grief-fueled internet philosophy, nihilism, and existential dread. So basically, she’s a teenager in 2025. Indie is heartbreakingly real—equal parts maddening and magnetic—and if you’ve ever tried to love a teen through a storm, you’ll recognize that dance of distance and desperation.

Kate, meanwhile, is losing control of everything: her daughter, her marriage, her brand. Watching her fumble between performative calm and actual collapse felt almost invasive—like opening someone else’s Notes app and finding a grocery list mixed with a midlife crisis. And it’s all so sharp. Every line is laced with tension, every interaction feels like it could tip either toward healing or full-scale emotional arson.

Let me just say: No One You Know gets it. It gets the ache of parenting in the digital age, the dissonance between what we share online and what we live offline. It understands how grief doesn’t just show up at your doorstep; it moves in, eats your snacks, and starts rearranging your sense of reality. The novel asks big questions—what does it mean to protect your kid when the threats are philosophical and digital and internal? What happens when your curated life becomes irrelevant to the actual human standing in front of you, breaking?

There’s a quiet brilliance in how Tourtelot handles small-town dynamics, too. The Hudson Valley isn’t just a setting—it’s a Greek chorus in yoga pants and hand-thrown pottery. Tourtelot nails the vibe of a town that looks like it belongs in a glossy weekend getaway spread but simmers with secrets, class divides, and judgment passed as politeness. Everyone knows everyone’s business, especially when they don’t want to.

The writing? Chef’s kiss with a side of emotional damage. The prose flows with poetic precision, but it never feels precious. It’s raw where it needs to be, lyrical when you least expect it, and laugh-out-loud dry in just the right places. One line in particular knocked the wind out of me:
“Forget prayer,” she said. “Here’s your higher power: Hang out on Google long enough and the internet will give you what you need.”
If that doesn’t perfectly capture Gen Z spirituality, I don’t know what does.

But this isn’t just a grief book. It’s a how-do-we-live-now book. It’s about what it means to parent when the world is falling apart, how we reach for control when the algorithm is winning, and how the stories we tell—online, in marriage, in family—either save us or destroy us.

Indie’s grief spiral is one of the most honest portrayals of adolescent loss I’ve ever read. She doesn’t just cry and scream and then go back to school after a week of Sad Girl Walks. She questions everything. She goes deep. Meditation, nihilist philosophy, weird message boards—it’s all there. And through her, we get to witness that terrifying, gorgeous process of becoming a person again after your world breaks.

Kate’s journey is quieter but equally haunting. Watching her come to terms with the damage beneath her life’s glossy surface—both the damage she caused and the damage she inherited—felt like peeling back wallpaper to find black mold. Necessary. Uncomfortable. Weirdly satisfying.

By the end, the characters aren’t “healed” in any fake Hallmark way, but they are changed. Tired, wiser, messier—but still standing. That’s what made this book such a gut-punch in the best way. It didn’t try to fix everything. It just told the truth.

If your book club is into easy answers and tidy endings, maybe skip this one. But if you’re ready to get messy, to sit in discomfort, to feel the full weight of what it means to love your people through their darkest days—then No One You Know needs to be in your hands yesterday.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — A debut with the emotional IQ of a therapist and the narrative instincts of a seasoned novelist.

#NoOneYouKnow #EmmaTourtelot #LiteraryFiction2026 #BookClubMustRead #MomfluencerMeltdown #GriefInFiction #HudsonValleyDrama #TeenageGrief #NetGalleyARC #FamilyDrama #BooksThatHitHard #SheWritesPress #FictionThatFeelsReal #DebutNovelToWatch #BookstagramRecs #BooksForMomsAndTeens #ModernMotherhoodFiction #IndieAndKateForever #InternetVsReality #SocialMediaFacade #BooksWithHeartAndTeeth

Great drama book. Really enjoyed this one.
Thanks to author, publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book. While I got the book for free it had no bearing on the rating I gave it.

This is a well written, thoughtful look at grief, at family relationships and marriage. It it told in two voices, Kate the mother, trying to reach her daughter and her husband, who is pulling away. Indie is grieving the death of her best friend and trying to understand the point of life. My students might relate to this but the overall, tone might be too detached/intellectual for them. There is a lot in this book for older readers

This story is about Indie & her mum Kate, and how their relationship changes after Indie loses her best friend.
The book does an exceptional job of capturing how the first few weeks/months of grief impact you & those around you, and how differently everyone experiences & copes with grief.
As a reader who also lost a friend at a young age, the way in which the author, Emma Tourtelot, depicts Indies immense sense of loss was striking. A situation which leaves parents thinking how can they fix this, and the very human feeling of being helpless at a time like this.

Thank you to NetGalley and She Writes Press for an advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

No One You Know is a story told from a mother/daughter duo POV. Indie, the teenage protagonist, suffers the loss of her best friend and copes with the death by embracing nihilism. Her mother, Kate, progressive realtor by day and momfluencer by night and, struggling with her own grief of losing her mother, tries her best to bring Indie back to reality without much help from her husband.

We slowly see Indie's slow descent into apathetic thought and behavior while she and her father treat Kate like their own metaphorical punching bag. But you can't fault Indie for this, or at least I couldn't. What angsty, bratty teenage girl didn't go through their own nihilistic-I-have-everything-figured-out-phase at 14 years old? Kate is the true definition of loving your child unconditionally because despite the hurt and pain she endures at the mouths of her daughter and husband, she doesn't ever give up on Indie, not once.

In the beginning, I couldn't stand Kate and even agreed with the things Indie and her husband were saying/thinking about her, but then the more I saw her through the eyes of her daughter, my heart ached for her. These characters are flawed and sometimes unlikable which made them feel so real. At points in this book I wished I had someone to talk to about the story.

My main issue with the story was how the pacing was all over the place for me. In the middle it became repetitive and exhausting to be in the head of Indie. I also had a problem with the ending. While I didn't think it necessarily ended too cleanly, I did think the resolution was done too quickly. For the amount of months we spend watching Indie fall victim to an online cult, the switch that flipped for Indie to "snap out of it" was too unbelievable for me. Also, the philosophical mumbo jumbo was too pretentious for my taste.

This is a story about grief, how we cope, and how it can tear apart a family. I'll be keeping my eye out for more from Emma Tourtelot.

“No One You Know” is an intriguing novel that deals with how a tragedy can mar the bond between a mother and daughter.

Kate is an influencer while Indie is her teenage daughter. Their relationship is challenged when Indie loses her best friend. How daughter deals with grief is very different than how mom deals with grief.

Told in the alternating point of view of Kate and Indie, I thought this debut was well executed.

Thanks to the author, the publisher and Net Galley for a chance to read and review this novel.

I always enjoy books that explore the mother/ daughter dynamic. This is told in duel POV, both voices being strong, with grief and loss being the major themes.
At times I felt the pacing was a little slow but then it picked up towards the end.
Another review mentioned the cover art, I also love it when, whilst reading/ finishing a book you look back and find you better understand the cover art choice, it suddenly clicks you.
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read the ARC for an honest review!

No One You Know” is a thoughtful and deeply affecting exploration of grief and the many forms it takes. Emma Tourtelot portrays the emotional complexities of loss with clarity and sensitivity, offering a narrative that feels both relevant and profoundly human. In a world where grief is often carried quietly, this novel gives voice to the unspoken weight many experience.

Indie’s story is especially impactful. The portrayal of a parent’s helplessness in the face of their child’s pain is rendered with honesty and restraint, making the emotional landscape all the more powerful. Tourtelot allows these moments to unfold with raw authenticity, capturing how differently individuals cope while still influencing and being influenced by those around them.

The characters are well-drawn, compelling, and thoughtfully developed, each contributing meaningfully to the novel’s emotional depth. Their arcs are woven together with intention, creating a story that resonates long after the final page.

Overall, this is a remarkable and resonant read.
⭐ 4 stars.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advance copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

A raw, powerful dive into grief, family collapse and hidden truths. Tourtelot alternates between mother and daughter voices to portray a small‑town life shattered by tragedy — a teenager’s loss, a family’s unraveling, and the dark spaces under everyday façades. Brutally honest yet tender, it captures the pain and tension of grief and the fragility of relationships with gut‑punch clarity. A disturbing, unforgettable read that makes you feel every fissure.

No One You Know is a haunting exploration of identity, memory, and the fragile threads that connect us to others. The novel unfolds with quiet intensity, drawing readers into a world where secrets and silences shape lives as much as spoken truths. Tourtelot’s prose is lyrical yet precise, creating an atmosphere that feels both intimate and unsettling.
The strength of the book lies in its nuanced character development. Each figure is layered with contradictions, making them deeply human and relatable. Themes of trust, loss, and the search for belonging resonate throughout, inviting readers to question how well we truly know those closest to us—and ourselves.
While the pacing is deliberate, it serves the story’s introspective nature. Tourtelot avoids melodrama, opting instead for emotional authenticity. The result is a narrative that lingers long after the final page, challenging readers to reflect on the complexities of connection and isolation.

No One You Know is a compelling, thought-provoking read for anyone who appreciates literary fiction that balances psychological depth with elegant storytelling.

Gosh this book is sad. But it is beautifully written and provocative. It’s about a teen girl whose best friend is killed when struck by a drunk driver, and it’s about her mother, whose own mother died the previous year. It’s especially about how grief affects relationships, set in an upstate NY small town.

I felt myself get frustrated at the characters,but that was me overlaying my own beliefs on them, and wishing they would see the world differently. So much pain!! But you can’t solve someone’s pain with your worldview, and we can’t compare our pain to each other’s; each person has their own journey. This book broke my heart, but I also couldn’t put it down. Read the synopsis to decide if this book is for you!

Thanks to @shewritespress and @emmatourtelot for the gifted advance copy.

Told in alternating perspectives from a real estate agent/mother/momfluencer and a teenage daughter, No One You Know is an intriguing family drama about grief, love, and gentrification.

Thank you to She Writes Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

An interesting look into how to deal with grief and how we all just need to give each other more grace to deal with loss and change in our own ways.

Kate lives in a small town in the Hudson Valley, selling homes to gentrifiers moving out of the city while she writes her blog about motherhood and marriage, built on her strong bond with her teenage daughter, Indie. But when Indie's best friend dies, Indie falls into despair of how to live without her while Kate and her husband Ethan have very different tactics to deal with grief. Indie begins using the internet to search for meaning in this world that would let her best friend get hit by a drunk driver while Kate tries to keep her online identity soldi despite the crumbling self she finds her mind inhabiting. When mistakes are made and family secrets come out, the relationships in the family suffer. As Indie further removes herself from Kate and Ethan follows suit, how will any member of this family make it out?

This is told in dual POV from Kate and Indie's perspectives.

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this novel.

A book about small town life and how people deal with bereavement in different ways. An emotionally triggering book but well written and makes you question your own relationships and way in which you support bereavement.

3 stars to this family centred novel in which 14 year old Indie grieves the loss of her best friend Maddy..

Mum Kate is a 'cidiot' who has moved from NYC to the Hudson Valley, working as a real estate agent and running a successful blog. Her husband is disdainful, and her teenage daughter is falling apart, Kate and Indie struggle to relate as Indie falls deeper into an online cult and Kate makes a mistake that might just cost her both her marriage and her relationship with her daughter.

I liked this book but it did not need to be almost 400 pages - for me a lot of the initial half dragged. I would've liked to get to know Indie and Maddy a bit more deeply, so that Maddy's death would be more impactful. I also struggled to like Kate and her blog, so at time my sympathy towards her was lacking.

I'm also not entirely convinced on the cult that Indie joins - I think more could have been done to develop this and make it more appealing to a 14 year old.

Overall this book was an interesting look into small town life, and portrayed a complex family dynamic well. However, it did not need 400 pages to do so.

Propulsive from page one as we're pulling on to the Taconic State Parkway and hearing our narrator Kate talk about speeding and death, and we find out that her daughter Indie is missing. Then we hear from another narrator, Indie herself, six months prior. Soon, we learn Indie's best friend Maddy died... and we don't quite know what happened. Two unknowns to unravel, two points of view to jump back and forth, and Emma Tourtelot still managed not to rely on cliffhanging chapter ends to get the reader powering through. It was hard to put this one down! Kate, Indie, and the husband/father Ethan move like pinballs in each other's lives, coexisting, occasionally colliding, no one really understanding the other. As we roll back towards the narrative present in the prologue, Tourtelot explores mother-daughter relationships, friendship, grief, identity, and the role technology plays in the way we see ourselves and relate to others--all of these so beautifully rendered, even subtle.

Thanks to the publisher She Writes Press and NetGalley for my ARC.

When Emma Tourtelot, author of NO ONE YOU KNOW reached out to tell me about her forthcoming debut novel and offered to send me an advance copy, I immediately agreed. She had me at “mother-daughter story.” You all know that I’m a total sucker for anything to do with motherhood.

I must say that Tourtelot certainly excels at character development. The narrative flip-flops between mother and daughter, and I was instantly invested in each of their storylines. The pace was on the slower side—which I love—yet steady and eventful. There’s plenty of little twists, turns, and surprises that showcase how tragedy and grief can quickly rip a family apart, fray a solid marriage, and sever a mother-daughter bond.

READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:

- Family drama and dynamics
- Motherhood and marriage
- Mother-daughter relationships
- Reflections on loss and grief
- Insight on teenage behavior
- Female friendship
- Small town vibes
- Influencer lifestyle
- Dual POVs
- Emotional reads
- Character-driven novels
- Neighborhood drama

This debut truly spoke to my motherly soul. My daughter is just a few months away from turning fifteen, and is truly in the thick of it. The moodiness, angst, eye rolls, and dirty looks are plentiful, yet so are the quick hugs, small smiles, late-night talks, and chatty Starbucks runs. I feel like this will be my most difficult stage of parenting, and it’s been a rollercoaster navigating it. So I really appreciate stories like these that I can easily relate to.

Tourtelot’s debut is beautifully written, thought-provoking, heartfelt, and timely. I really cannot recommend it enough—especially if you have a teenage daughter! I cannot wait to read more from the author. 4/5 stars for NO ONE YOU KNOW! It releases on January 20th. Highly recommend!

No One You Know by Emma Tourtelot is a heartfelt exploration of grief through the eyes of 14-year-old Indie, whose world is upended when her best friend dies unexpectedly. The novel alternates between Indie’s perspective and her mother’s, giving readers a poignant look at how loss reverberates through a family. Tourtelot captures Indie’s raw emotions—confusion, anger, and longing—with authenticity, while her mother’s POV adds depth to the portrayal of parental grief.

That said, I found myself wishing for one more perspective—her dad’s—who I think could have brought a compelling and perhaps messier dimension to the story. Even so, the book thoughtfully navigates adolescence, loss, and the complicated ways people cope with tragedy. It’s a tender, quietly powerful read for anyone interested in realistic depictions of grief and family dynamics.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. There were moments and lines that really landed for me—insightful in a way that felt uncomfortably close to my own everyday life. That said, not everything worked. Some parts felt a bit over the top, and there were stretches where I found the characters genuinely irritating. The term “cidiot” shows up repeatedly throughout the book; maybe it’s common knowledge, but it was new to me and I kept wishing for a clearer introduction to the concept.

No One You Know is very internal, very reflective, and often feels like sitting inside someone’s thoughts as they spiral, search, pause, and search again.

The writing is thoughtful, and there were moments that really hit. The book captures that specific feeling of not knowing how to explain what’s wrong, only that something is.

The pacing though felt slow, and the story lingered in the same emotional space for longer than needed. I appreciated what the book was trying to do, but I found myself wanting a bit more movement or shift as I went along.

No One You Know wasn't quite for me—the heavy focus on motherhood and the mother-daughter relationship didn't resonate personally, and the slow pacing made it hard to stay engaged. That said, Tourtelot's writing immediately sucked me in, and I appreciated her commentary on social media's superficiality and the contrast between curated online personas and real grief, and I can see this being a meaningful read for others who connect with its intimate exploration of loss and family.

Indie, a lively, smiley girl only fourteen years old, loses her best—and only—friend, with whom she grew up. Her world shatters. Her mom, Kate, initially kind of ignores the whole thing; she herself not long ago lost her own mother. So the two of them are sad, each dealing with grief in their own way.
As the book has a dual narrative (Kate's and Indie's), Kate’s parts are smart and… funny. Reading her internet entries was fun. But as time passes, it becomes clear that Indie isn’t doing well—she cannot process her grief without help. Kate sees it and tries to do whatever she thinks might help, only for everything to grow darker and darker.
Suddenly, nothing is the way it was, and observing this family spiral into total disaster is truly heartbreaking. This novel is not a light read. But in every dark room, there’s a spark of light—can you see it?

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗦
The appearance that Kate works hard to maintain - perfect mom, internet influencer, loving husband, a woman with a fulfilling real estate career in the gorgeous Hudson Valley? It’s starting to crumble.

Kate’s teenage daughter, Indie, is struggling with the recent death of her best friend, Maddy.

And this is how the foundation gives way.

As Indie retreats into herself, the hurt to much to face - in a dreamworld of distance and desperation - she falls down an internet rabbit hole where the meaning of life, her existence, is nothing, Kate’s whole world collapses as she loses control of her own narrative.

In the end, Kate can no longer trust what she believed about any of the things she deemed solid and important.

What is marriage, motherhood, grief when you are suddenly alone in a world that has been carefully curated by an online presence that is shattered on the floor?

𝗙𝗘𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦
Woah.

This was incredibly painful and poignant, many of the things Tourtelot touches on hitting far too close to home. The emotions are brutal and intimate and cracked me right open.

The exploration, told in dual POV, alternating chapters between Kate and Indie, is so incredibly authentic that several times I found tears on my cheeks without realizing I was crying.

The emotion is raw, like poking your tongue against a loose tooth, never knowing when it will give but always checking to be sure it is still there.

There’s no easy ending here, just hard fought battles that leave people bruised but still standing.

𝗩𝗜𝗕𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗖𝗞
Were you once a fourteen year old girl? Have you tried to parent a fourteen year old girl? Yeah, you know what I mean.

Also very much in the vein of Claire Lombardo.

𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗗
A fantastic debut not to be missed.

𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗞𝗦
@emmatourtelot DMed to ask if I’d be interested in reading it, and when I saw a blurb from Jenny Offill, I didn’t hesitate. This one is out 1/20/26.

lyrical, fantastic, and poignant book with some excellent characters and great writing. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

I love a literacy fiction about a complex family dynamic, so this was right up my alley. No One You Know is an extremely sad and very moving book. It intimately explores themes of motherhood, grief, friendship, class, family, identity, memory, and loss.

It’s told in the dual voices of a mother and daughter, who are experiencing loss that has torn through their small town. There is a heavy focus on thoughtful character development and while the story has a slow and steady pace, it is still eventful.

The writing is thoughtful, emotional, and beautiful. The pacing of the story is very slow, which I really enjoyed, as it created space for you to sit with certain emotions for a significant amount of time. I look forward to reading this again!

Thank you @netgalley, @emmatourtelot, and @shewritespress for this eARC!

Short synopsis:
Thank you NetGalley and Emma for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

This debut novel follows Kate, a seemingly successful realtor and momfluencer living in the Hudson Valley with her teacher husband, Ethan, and their teenage daughter, Indie. When Indie’s best friend tragically dies, the family begins to unravel as grief exposes cracks in their marriage, parenting, and sense of identity.

What I liked (or should I say, LOVED):
✨ Mother-daughter POV
✨ The portrayal of grief and how differently it can be experienced by one family.
✨ The exploration of marriage and parenthood, especially the quiet resentments, miscommunications, and distance that can grow over time.
✨ The commentary on life in a technology-driven society and constant presence of social media.
✨ Small town drama, and how quickly a community can turn, or rewrite a narrative.

I devoured this book. It made me feel so many emotions. First book of the year to make me cry. 🥲

I hurt for both Kate and Indie. At times, I was genuinely angry with Ethan, but ya know what, I hurt for him too. I found myself rooting for all of them to find their footing again.

As a mother, even though my kids are still toddlers and I am nowhere near the teenage years (praise lol), I could already foresee these struggles looming. The tension between mother and daughter. The desire to reconnect. The strain on a marriage after kids. The way we so easily retreat into phones instead of being present with the people we love. How easy it is to fall prey to influencers and gurus in today’s digital age.

I’ve reflected on the themes in this novel many times over the last couple weeks. I think this would be a great book club pick.

Recommend:
YES. I think you will enjoy this if you love literary fiction, emotionally driven stories, family dynamics, grief, motherhood, marriage, and novels that feel deeply rooted in real life.

As always, check your trigger warnings.

This was such a strong and beautiful debut, and I cannot wait to see what Emma Tourtelot writes next.

This novel is a quiet gut-punch—an incisive, deeply human look at how grief fractures not just a family, but the narratives we build to make life feel controllable.

Set against the curated calm of the Hudson Valley, the story expertly contrasts Kate’s polished life as a realtor and mom-influencer with the private unraveling that follows the sudden death of her daughter’s best friend. The author captures the disorienting aftermath of loss with remarkable restraint, allowing the tension to seep in through silences, miscommunications, and the growing distance between family members who all grieve differently.

One of the book’s greatest strengths is its portrayal of Indie’s descent into online nihilism. Her search for meaning in a world that now feels arbitrary and cruel is rendered with unsettling authenticity, highlighting the particular vulnerability of teenagers navigating grief in an algorithm-driven landscape. At the same time, Kate’s struggle to maintain a carefully constructed public identity while privately falling apart feels painfully contemporary and sharply observed.

As long-buried secrets emerge, the novel widens its scope, interrogating marriage, motherhood, and the self-protective stories we tell ourselves to keep going. The emotional payoff is subtle but powerful, favoring emotional truth over easy resolution.

Thoughtful, unsettling, and deeply resonant, this is a novel that lingers long after the final page—especially for readers interested in the fragile line between performance and reality, and the terrifying, necessary act of letting go.

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

What an interesting, thought provoking read. Excellent writing, lovely characters, and more interestingly, an honest look at the way the Internet can both help us find connection and disconnect us from those we love. 5 stars!

Emma Tourtelot’s No One You Know is a quietly devastating debut about grief, motherhood, and the stories communities tell themselves after tragedy. When teenage Indie witnesses her best friend’s sudden death, she spirals into online nihilism, while her mother Kate struggles to hold their family together amid her own unresolved losses.

Told in dual mother-daughter perspectives, the novel explores class and political divides, the false comfort of internet certainty, and the way “nice” men can still do real harm. Kate’s marriage, her brief connection with her friend’s grieving father, and the town’s swift judgment of her reveal how easily blame attaches itself to women—especially mothers.

This is a layered, unsettling literary novel that looks beyond the event of loss to its long, messy aftermath. You can read my full review here: https://writeontheworld.wordpress.com/2026/01/12/no-one-you-know-by-emma-tourtelot-grief-motherhood-and-the-quiet-violence-of-being-blamed/

The two stages of life that challenged me the most are easily being a teenager and mothering a teenager. Both are filled with uncertainty, doubt, second guessing, and a feeling of isolation. Toss grief into the mix and the struggles are magnified. Emma Tourtelot certainly hit a vein with her portrayal of the mother-daughter relationship in NO ONE YOU KNOW.

This poignant novel centers around 14-year-old Indie in the aftermath of the tragic death of her best friend. Indie and Maddy were two halves of a whole and Indie is ill equipped to deal with such profound loss. Her parents are like many parents–trying their best, but clueless. It doesn’t help that both Ethan and Kate have unresolved grief issues of their own. As Indie retreats further into herself, it spotlights the fissures in their marriage.

There’s a frenzied feeling of helplessness that permeates this book. Kate is desperate to connect with her daughter. Indie is desperate to find meaning in life. Both are failing miserably. The emotions are real and raw.

Tourtelot’s writing is sharp, cutting straight to the bone. Her observations are perceptive and on point. I sympathized with Kate’s desire to “get it right” when dealing with Indie, while at the same time growing frustrated with her failure to press the issue when she clearly recognized Indie was in crisis. And therein lies the conundrum of motherhood: when to hold tight and when to let go. Ethan gets less of a pass from me because he was not only not helpful, but actually widened the gulf between mother and daughter.

I read this book more slowly than most because the conflict and choices demanded (and deserved) reflection. Being able to process my thoughts with a friend while reading only heightened an already outstanding reading experience. I’m glad she invited me to read along with her.

Thank you to NetGalley and She Writes Press for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.