Review: These Things Hidden by Heather Gudenkauf @harlequinbooks #Mira @hgudenkauf #BuddyReadstoDieFor #ATBR2020
These Things Hidden
by Heather Gudenkauf
The June Buddy Reads to Die For choice and another All The Book Reviews buddy read - we had quite the group read for this amazing story.
Publisher: Mira
Publish Date: January 18, 2011
Paperback
337 Pages
Standalone
Genre: Psychological Thriller
When teenager Allison Glenn is sent to prison for a heinous crime, she leaves behind her reputation as Linden Falls' golden girl forever. Her parents deny the existence of their once-perfect child. Her former friends exult her downfall. Her sister, Brynn, faces whispered rumors every day in the hallways of their small Iowa high school. It's Brynn--shy, quiet Brynn--who carries the burden of what really happened that night. All she wants is to forget Allison and the past that haunts her. But then Allison is released to a halfway house, and is more determined than ever to speak with her estranged sister. Now their legacy of secrets is focused on one little boy. And if the truth is revealed, the consequences will be unimaginable for the adoptive mother who loves him, the girl who tried to protect him and the two sisters who hold the key to all that is hidden.
My Review:
PHEW! Well that was an emotional roller coaster of a read! I'm going to keep this review as vague as the synopsis because you really should go into this one blind. I'm not a person who gets triggered but you should peruse other reviews if you are to see if this read may or may not be difficult for you. Though I think the subject matter probably wouldn't be easy for anyone who isn't a socio/psychopath.
Now that that's out of the way - Gudenkauf is one of my absolute favorite authors and her writing will speak for itself. I highly suggest you pick her up if you're a thriller lover and prepare yourself to dive headlong into the vortex she creates while you continually turn these pages. Short chapters, intriguing plot line, characters to love and to hate and strap yourself in for the emotional roller coaster she will put you on.
Oh the pressure on kids to be perfect and the parents who put pressure on them to be so. A tsk-tsk to those parents who are so selfish that they focus only on their own happiness rather than the health and happiness of their own children. Big hugs and tears to those who long to be parents but cannot and somehow get blessed along the way by other means. Gudenkauf puts us through the gauntlet of emotions as we see these stories play out.
I can see why this wouldn't be a book for everyone but this is a book that wows me and now I understand why it's Jamie's favorite of this author. Thanks for sending this one my way. If you're looking for an emotional thriller that will simultaneously piss you off and make you love some very flawed characters... well, look no further.
★★★★★
Jessica's Review:
This is my third outing with Heather Gudenkauf and I haven't been disappointed yet! Having read her two newest releases I was excited to go back to one of her backlist books for the #buddyreadstodiefor book club. THESE THINGS HIDDEN had all the things that I loved about her other two books - just a fun and solid thriller to fly through.
This is my third outing with Heather Gudenkauf and I haven't been disappointed yet! Having read her two newest releases I was excited to go back to one of her backlist books for the #buddyreadstodiefor book club. THESE THINGS HIDDEN had all the things that I loved about her other two books - just a fun and solid thriller to fly through.
What I will always love is how she hooks you from that first chapter. Once you start, you aren't going to want to stop or put down the book. Fast pace, multiple POVs, twists, red herrings, and well-developed characters (some you'll love and some that will get under your skin). It's always so hard to review her books because you don't want to accidentally spoil anything and ruin the fun and suspense.
I will continue to pick up anything by Gudenkauf - this one solidified her status as one of my auto-buy authors. I highly recommend this one as well as BEFORE SHE WAS FOUND and THIS IS HOW I LIE - you won't be disappointed. Now, to go back and get more of her books.
5 stars
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