Truth and deceit blur as one woman’s desperation twists into another’s desire for revenge in this mind-bending psychological novel.
Charlotte Coburn has a tragically dark past. But she’s safe now. She lives in a gated community, protected from danger. When teenager Elle knocks at her door looking for shelter during a particularly severe storm, the woman can’t help but think how lucky Elle’s been … lucky Elle’s been to have found someone as friendly as her. Except Elle chose her door on purpose…
She knows all about Charlotte’s secrets because they ruined her family and her life. And it is time that everyone else knew. But Charlotte’s past has left a dark void in her life, so she is concocting her own vicious plan, convinced that Elle can help fill that void.
As events unfold, the truth unravels and pulls both women into a dangerous game that will leave you wondering, Who’s the villain?
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This book is told between the alternating viewpoints of the two lead characters. Elle is troubled teen, close to flunking out her senior year of high school. She has a terrible home life, living in a filth-infested apartment with a drunk foster parent who gambles away her assistance checks. Elle’s father, a man with a history of domestic abuse, is in prison for a crime he says he didn’t commit.
Charlotte has a beautiful home in a gated community. Her workaholic husband is often absent, and her own dark past has left her wary of others. During a horrible storm, Elle knocks on Charlotte’s door for shelter. She knows all about Charlotte’s past, convinced that it contributed to ruining her life. Once Charlotte allows Elle into her house and her life, the reader is treated to both sides of the coin, and no one is who they seem.
Charlotte and Elle dance around each other, never fully trusting, while maintaining all the earmarks of a growing friendship. Soon Elle is left questing everything she thought she knew. In addition, she finds herself in an unexpected situation that leaves her vulnerable, her future uncertain. Again, Charlotte is there to help, solicitous, while still maintaining an underlying edge of distrust.
Occasionally, the behaviors of both characters require a stretch of the imagination, but the plot is twisty and engaging. There are HUGE surprises in store at the end. My only quibble is that when the revelations come, they strike like a thunderbolt—quick and done. I wish there had been a bit more build up to the final cards being played. It all happens so fast. That aside, this was an inventive and suspenseful read and the ending was jaw-dropping. Well done!
Twists, turns and surprises make up this tale of love and loss. In this story I tried to figure out who was the guilty party or parties, but I learned that they all had something they were guilty of. And who was the real psycho? I won’t spoil it for anyone, but I have to say it’s a story well worth the time to read. It was told very well and was very good! Thanks Marin!
I must admit, this is one of the best books I’ve read. Is it perfect? Absolutely not. There are character decisions that make no sense and some plot holes, but the two character perspectives the story is told from kept me turning the pages right until the end.
The ending was far from perfect as well, admittedly a bit dissatisfying on a humanitarian level but satisfying in the sense of a domestic thriller. As with most books, if you focus on the story too much it becomes quite unbelievable at times.
Forget all that. Just sit back, relax, and enjoy the story for what it is: entertainment.
This book was confusing and frustrating. All the characters kept changing their personas until I couldn’t keep up with any of their roles. Charlotte, a victim of abuse, starts out guarded and paranoid to the point of locking herself in her own house. She doesn’t interact with strangers, answer the door or phone, yet she randomly decides to take a teenager, Elle/Elizabeth, under her wing without even questioning who she is. Elle’s motives are easier to understand. She’s after justice for her father, who has a history with Charlotte and is currently serving time in prison, but even she goes from vengeful to remorseful and back again at the drop of a hat. The plot was very unrealistic, and yet I had to keep reading to see how everything would untangle. Unfortunately, the ending was anti-climatic after all the plot twists.
Charlotte Coburn unsuspectingly takes in the sweet & helpless Elle in an attempt to turn Elle’s life around. Except everything isn’t what it seems, in fact it’s far from it in this mind-blowing psychological thriller. Sure to be a book you cannot put down!
This book hooked me just a few pages in. I was surprised how fast I had to know more. This book felt like an puzzle and the farther you read the more pieces you were able to fit into place. I absolutely loved that about.
I’m a sucker for a good thriller and this one certainly was one. Based on What We Forgot to Burt, I’m looking forward to picking up more books from Marin Montgomery!
This book left me completely speechless, though it’s only January I have a strong feeling this will be the best psychological thriller I read all year. It was insane, addicting. I absolutely cannot wait to devour every single one of Marin’s books!
This story really started off slow and I almost stopped listening to it. It really didn’t start keeping my attention until more than half way through. There were several twists and turns at the end when you finally get the full story. Just proves you never really know someone as well as you think you do. Many who lie and even more who hide their secrets. Filled with drama, lies, obsession, and ruined lived.
Good book.
July 26, 2020
Very twisted
Kinda young for me, but enjoyable. Lots of twists I didn’t see coming certainly kept things moving. Just too many teenagers.
The ending was amazing.
A good read. Thoroughly enjoyed.
Written in first person, sometimes hard to follow narrative from chapter to chapter. So much craziness, so much dysfunction in Charlotte’s web.
This was the first book I have read by Marin Montgomery but it will certainly NOT be the last. I absolutely loved this book.
In What We Forgot to bury everyone has secrets. This is a story of love, lust, jealousy, redemption and forgiveness. It was a truly thrilling read that kept me guessing right until the end. Will you be able to tell who is lying? Who is guilty? They sure had me fooled!
The chapters alter in narration between Charlotte and Elle. Charlotte has a tragic and dark past. Elle is a teen who has been tragically let down by the system.
For years the character’s have been weaving webs of lies, lies that have already cost lives and may cost them even more. There is so much I want to say about this book but I dont want to risk giving ANYTHING away!!
If you are looking for a true page turner or a book that isnt predictable I highly recommend that you give this book a try. I promise that you will not be disappointed.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I’ve read all of Ms. Montgomery’s books starting with The Girl That Got Away and I knew after finishing that book that I would buy her future ones. I’ve never been disappointed with any of her work, but some of her books are “really good”. And the others are AMAZING. This was definitely not just amazing but what I consider her best one yet… I was jumping up and down when I saw it was a first read for this month. I read so many books a week (mostly thriller, some horror). That is not often I get truly excited about a book.. But this was the first book in some time I enjoyed this much. The plot is thought out and well written… It’s an original take
on the thriller revenge theme. Though a seasoned reader will see some twists coming, this still managed to keep me on shaky ground enough that I was on the edge of my seat. The 2 narrators made it the most interesting in my opinion because since we’re not sure who, if anyone can be trusted, they are both unreliable for most of the book and for some reason, unlike a lot of others, I tend to enjoy unreliable or even unlikable narrators in books I read. but at the same time, while reading this, I wanted them both to turn out to be redeemed. I highly recommend this whether you’re a 1st time reader of this author or if you’re just reading her for the first time. This will satisfy anyone who is looking for a great thriller, with an engaging story and characters
****** AUDIOBOOK REVIEW ******
The story might have started out slow but it did not stay on that course at all! There were so many lies I needed notes to keep up with all of them! Marin Montgomery sure can keep her readers on their toes! This story was one that psychological lovers are going to love! There’s so much misdirection happening in this story and this was the main reason I spend a good chunk of the story scratching my head with confusion. I wasn’t able to keep up with it all by a quarter the way through and when everything started to get tied all up in a bow… I was shocked with it all!
I was delighted with both narrators. Samara Naeymi and Jess Nahikian were both fabulous! I don’t know which woman played which character but really they both played their characters attributes perfectly. Charlotte seemed so docile and worrisome. While Elle is more outwardly deceitful and sneaky. Both narrators played on those characteristics and really brought them to life.
Thank you Brilliance Audio for sending me an early audiobook!
The plot itself isn’t bad with some good twists.
However, jumping back and forth between the two, female, characters becomes confusing and frustrating very quickly.
Plot holes you could drive a truck through and the WORST part:
The figurative slap in the face to all victims and survivors of domestic violence comes in the epilogue when a man with a very ugly history of substance abuse and repeated domestic violence is simply scrubbed clean as though he’ll magically become a kindly grandfather. That is vulgar.
Scattered story writing was ok. Glad I didn’t pay for it
Enjoyable but not exceptional. This story is an average read with a combination of mystery, suspense, and psychological drama. I enjoyed the beginning and the ending, and although somewhat predictable, it does offer an unexpected twisty surprise or two. The cover and description are more dramatic than the content.
Very twisty emotional tear jerker.
A mind-blowing and disturbing psychological thriller that will shock the reader’s conscience and psyche.