Title: The Cousins
Author: Karen M. McManus
ISBN: 9780525708018
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Pages: 337
Source: Private copy
Milly, Aubrey, and Jonah Story are cousins, but they barely know each other, and they’ve never even met their grandmother. Rich and reclusive, she disinherited their parents before they were born. So when they each receive a letter inviting them to work at her island resort for the summer, they’re surprised… and curious.
Their parents are all clear on one point—not going is not an option. This could be the opportunity to get back into Grandmother’s good graces. But when the cousins arrive on the island, it’s immediately clear that she has different plans for them. And the longer they stay, the more they realize how mysterious—and dark—their family’s past is.
The entire Story family has secrets. Whatever pulled them apart years ago isn’t over—and this summer, the cousins will learn everything.
Official Summary
19 July 2024
Holy smokes, this book was a wild ride from start to finish! After turning the last page, I felt like I got an adrenaline rush from all those twists and turns!
Seriously, talk about a roller coaster of emotions! It starts slow, teasing you with clues that make you think you’ve got it all figured out. Then, bam! A twist hits you like a ton of bricks, followed by more bombs dropped along the way. And just when you think you can take a breather, wham! Unexpected revelations sucker punch you in the gut!
And that ending? It was like fireworks exploding in my brain. I couldn’t help but cheer for the author’s evil genius. I swear, I could almost hear her cackling with glee as she plotted out this mind-bending story.
This book takes a darker turn compared to the author’s usual stuff, diving deep into family secrets and shady schemes that kept me hooked.
The cousins stuck at their mysterious grandma’s resort—Milly, the sharp one; Aubrey, the peacekeeper; and Jonah, the mysterious dude—each brought their own drama and secrets to the table. Their stories told through different viewpoints and flashbacks, wove a tangled web of family drama and hidden motives.
Sure, there were a couple of plot holes and keeping such a huge secret on a small island seems improbable, but who cares when the ride’s this fun? The pacing kept me on edge, the storytelling was gripping, and the characters felt real enough to be my own crazy relatives.
Overall, if you dig mysteries mixed with dysfunctional family drama, this book’s perfect for you.
Also by Karen M. McManus
YOU’LL BE THE DEATH OF ME
Ivy, Mateo, and Cal used to be close. Back in middle school they were best friends. So, when Cal pulls into campus late for class and runs into Ivy and Mateo, it seems like the perfect opportunity to turn a bad day around. They’ll ditch school and go into the city. Just the three of them, like old times. Why did they stop hanging out, anyway?
As soon as they pull out of the parking lot Cal knows why. Ivy’s already freaking out about missing class, and heartthrob Mateo is asleep in the backseat, too cool to even pretend like he wants to be there. The truth is they have nothing in common anymore.
At least they don’t until they run into the fourth student ditching school that day. Brian “Boney” Mahoney is supposed to be accepting his newly won office of class president. Which is why Ivy follows him into an empty building, only to walk into the middle of a murder scene. Cal, Ivy, and Mateo all know the person lying on the ground of that building, and now they need to come clean. They’re all hiding something. And maybe their chance reconnection wasn’t by chance after all.
About The Author
Author Bio from the Author’s Site
Karen M. McManus is a #1 New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author of young adult thrillers. Her work includes the One of Us Is Lying series as well as the standalone novels Two Can Keep a Secret, The Cousins, You’ll Be the Death of Me, and the upcoming Nothing More to Tell. Karen’s books have been translated into more than 40 languages and have sold more than four million copies worldwide. She lives in Massachusetts and holds a master’s degree in Journalism from Northeastern University, which she mostly uses to draft fake news stories for her novels.
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