Jen Waite | SURVIVAL INSTINCTS

Plot (via Goodreads):

FOURTEEN YEARS BEFORE THE CABIN: Twenty-something Anne meets the man of her dreams right out of college, but after they get married, Anne notices that her husband begins acting differently. Why is Ethan suddenly so moody? And will their marriage endure?

A WEEK BEFORE THE CABIN: Ten years later, Anne and her twelve-year-old daughter, Thea, are safely living in Vermont. Anne is a successful therapist, Thea has friends at her new school, and they receive an endless stream of love, support, and baked goods from Anne's sweet mom, Rose. When Thea takes to brooding and showing classic signs of teen angst, a trip for the three women to the White Mountains of New Hampshire seems like the perfect chance to bond.

THE CABIN: A man follows the three women on a hike at a nature reserve and drags them at gunpoint to an abandoned cabin in the woods. And just like that their peaceful weekend away turns into a fight for survival. It isn't clear what this man wants from these women or how he is connected to them if at all, but it is increasingly clear that they won't all get out of the cabin alive.

Review:

Jen Waite wrote one hell of a memoir that I fell in love with, so when I heard that she was releasing a fictional novel, I knew I had to read it immediately. Comparing the two would just be silly because one is a piece of fiction and one is a memoir, but one thing I can say? Jen Waite is on hell of a brilliant writer who knocked me flat on my back with this sensational and bone-chilling novel that is emotionally charged and family driven, yet dark, disturbing, and riveting.

This novel has one of my favorite things and that is multiple character perspectives between four characters. Not only was this something that made it impossible to put down, but I really commend Waite for going this route because while the pacing is rather meticulous, there are spurts of these violent and eerie chapters from one character while we go back and forth getting to know the others before we reach our destination in what could only possibly be one of the most suspenseful books I've read all year. There's definitely a couple strong backstories in this one that are connected and I loved getting a look into the past lives of these characters as I embarked on this reading journey. Now, keep in mind, my original plan was to read 100 pages of this one in one evening before finishing it after work on a Monday night. That didn't happen; I woke up Monday morning really tired and experiencing one of the biggest book hangovers I ever had. This is a story that will stick to your ribs and linger for weeks after its brutal finale.

What I loved the most this story was Waite's ability to have a domestic thriller that was so fast paced! This book has such a great domestic plot, but the pacing is faster than most in this genre. If you're looking for a fast-paced and character-driven emotional drama with an intense storyline and a plethora of twists and turns, you must read Survival Instincts immediately. I loved this book so much and I can't wait to see what Jen Waite does next. I'd love to discuss the plot more, however my recommendation is that this book is amazing no matter what, but going in blindly will really make such a wonderful experience.

Special thanks to Dutton and Jen Wait for this copy in exchange for my honest review.

Rating: 5/5