Tiffany Reisz | THE LUCKY ONES

Plot (via Goodreads):

They called themselves “the lucky ones.” They were seven children either orphaned or abandoned by their parents and chosen by legendary philanthropist and brain surgeon Dr. Vincent Capello to live in The Dragon, his almost magical beach house on the Oregon Coast. Allison was the youngest of the lucky ones living an idyllic life with her newfound family…until the night she almost died, and was then whisked away from the house and her adopted family forever.

Now, thirteen years later, Allison receives a letter from Roland, Dr. Capello’s oldest son, warning her that their father is ill and in his final days. Allison determines she must go home again and confront the ghosts of her past. She's determined to find out what really happened that fateful night--was it an accident or, as she's always suspected, did one of her beloved family members try to kill her?

But digging into the past can reveal horrific truths, and when Allison pieces together the story of her life, she'll learns the terrible secret at the heart of the family she once loved but never really knew.

A vivid and suspenseful tale of family, grief, love—and the dark secrets that bind everything together—Tiffany Reisz’s latest is enthralling to the final page.

Review:

THE LUCKY ONES by Tiffany Reisz immediately sucked me in. From its very first sentence and the opening to this novel, I knew I was in for a wild ride. While the first look at Allison really puts the character in a rather vulnerable position, I immediately found her to be likable and thought that Reisz wrote her in a way that made me really care for her. The plot to this novel is not only extremely unique, but written sensationally. I will admit, I am a sucker for alternating chapters. Rather it be between different characters or different timeframes, it always really sucks me in as a reader. This novel takes place strictly in present time, but I loved how Reisz included these snippets from Allison's past with Dr. Capello and the other children. It was not confusing, tedious, or overdone as it can be with other novels where certain actions or words from the past are told in present time while the story is also moving along. This is a prime example of Reisz's sparkling writing ability.

I found myself lost in this novel. It's moody, atmospheric, and gothic. Between the plot, the setting, the characters, and  the overall tone of this novel, it just has this overall theme that really forces you to look it in the eye and shines brilliantly with every page. Not only is the story continuously interesting, mysterious, and exciting, but there are a plethora of wonderful characters that take you on a different journey within the bigger picture. Another aspect of this novel that I really enjoyed was how not only the writing was addictive, but the time spent getting to know certain characters before being introduced to others was not only meticulous and calculating, but such a fresh breath of air. In my initial thoughts as to having to get to know eight to ten new characters, I was worried I would get people confused, but Reisz just takes her time introducing them with an air of familiarity before dragging another perfectly written character into the storyline. 

I loved this novel. I loved the plot, the characters, the suspense, and especially the conclusion. I think this is a perfect read for anyone who wants to get a deeper look into some literary family dynamic combined with a psychologically thrilling and suspenseful read. Unlike anything I've read in this genre, I can honestly say that I cannot wait to see what Reisz comes up with next. Sign me up.

*Special thanks to Harper Collins for providing me with this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Rating: 4.5/5