I received a complimentary ARC from Netgalley in return for an honest review.

About The Book

My Review

 › In a Connecticut suburb Rosie wakes up at 5 am to find her sister, Laura, hasn’t returned from a date with a man she met online. Laura borrowed Rosie’s van, when she hasn’t returned or called by early-afternoon Rosie is sure something bad has happened. They find Rosie’s van with parking tickets – it’s been there all night. Gabe calls a friend who works for the phone company, Laura’s phone was last on near the harbor – miles away from where the van was parked. The reader is taken on a wild ride as we find out where Laura is, and what really happened that night in the woods when Laura’s boyfriend was killed.

“People could hide. And hide well. Even the people you love the most.”

 › Characters
• Laura Lochner: Princeton graduate with an MBA from Columbia. Laura and Rosie’s father left when Laura was twelve-years-old, and hasn’t seen her father for sixteen years. Laura has trouble trusting men and has emotional trauma after her boyfriend was killed in high school. She has a history of choosing the wrong men.

• Rosie Ferro: Laura’s sister, married to Joe, has a son. She may have anxiety issues, admits “her fears were not normal”.

• Joe: Rosie’s husband

• Gabe: has been friends with Laura, Rosie, and Joe since they were kids.

“Joe, their strong, handsome leader. Rosie, the pretty girl looking on as Laura, the reckless tomboy, found some kind of trouble. And then there was Gabe – the brains of the operation.”

 › Writing Style
• Laura feels like a complete character, while the others feel a little cookie-cutter and incomplete.
• Told from different time periods and perspectives.
1. Therapy sessions with Laura and Dr. Brody
2. Past: Laura’s perspective
3. Present: Rosie’s perspective

   › Likes
• Quick read
• Compelling
• Surprising reveals
• Sisters + Friend Group
• Two perspectives and time flips are done very well
• Well-written unreliable narrator

 › Dislikes
• Girl bashing:
“Two naughty girls to my right, drunk and slutty.”
“Gabe went home, beckoned by his jealous, needy wife…”
• Questionable actions: Laura agrees to meet her date at a pub then immediately leaves at his suggestion, THEN agreed to go in his car alone? What are you thinking!
• I wanted a little bit more from the ending.

 › Final Thoughts
With lots of twists and turns, The Night Before is a thrilling novel about family secrets, betrayal, and sibling loyalty. I must read Walker’s other books ASAP!

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Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for the complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review.

*Quotes taken from an ARC copy and subject to change*

About The Author

“Wendy Walker is a former attorney and investment banker in Fairfield County, Connecticut who began writing while at home raising her three sons. Her debut thriller, All Is Not Forgotten, has become an international bestseller, published in over 23 languages. Emma In The Night was published the following year and her next thriller, The Night Before, was just released and is on sale now!”

http://wendywalkerbooks.com

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