ABOUT THE BOOK
Catherine Sterling thinks she knows her mother. Ruth Sterling is quiet, hardworking, and lives for her daughter. All her life, it’s been just the two of them against the world. But now, Catherine is ready to spread her wings, move from home, and begin a new career. And Ruth Sterling will do anything to prevent that from happening.
Ruth Sterling thinks she knows her daughter. Catherine would never rebel, would never question anything about her mother’s past or background. But when Ruth’s desperate quest to keep her daughter by her side begins to reveal cracks in Ruth’s carefully-constructed world, both mother and daughter begin a dance of deception.
| Length | 10 hours and 9 minutes |
|---|---|
| Author | Sarah Pekkanen |
| Narrator | Kate Mara |
| Release Date | August 01, 2023 |
| Publisher | Macmillan Audio |
What Others Think
“Sarah Pekkanen’s startling, breathtaking tale of a mother and daughter will plunge you into a plot layered by lies and trauma but still infused with love. Through deft writing and thoughtful character development, she’s created a fast-paced thriller in Gone Tonight, daring to ask deep questions about love versus fear, and control versus protection.” —Readers Digest
“This riveting, original, and powerful mother-daughter story kept me glued to the pages. I’m a huge fan of Sarah Pekkanen’s books, and GONE TONIGHT is her best yet.” —Colleen Hoover
“Filled with buried secrets and jaw-dropping deception, Sarah Pekkanen’s GONE TONIGHT is a page-turning thriller about a mother-daughter you won’t soon forget.. What would make a teenage girl vanish into the night and live a life on the run for two decades? Read Gone Tonight. It’s a wild ride.” — Harlan Coben, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author
“Gone Tonight is an intense, harrowing story about long-buried secrets and the trauma they inflict. The mother-daughter relationship is both thrilling and heartbreaking, with characters you won’t soon forget. Captivating from beginning to end.” – Samantha Downing, internationally bestselling author of My Lovely Wife.
I’m finding I do much better when I listen to character-driven stories rather than read them. Perhaps part of that is due to the fact that they can be a little slow.
The POV is shared by daughter, Catherine, and her mother, Ruth, who are the main characters. There are no relatives involved since Ruth became pregnant with Catherine as a teenager and her parents basically disowned her. So the two have grown close, yet there are secrets. And questions are beginning to quietly work themselves into a questioning corner of Catherine’s mind. Are things really as they’ve been presented to her?
This was a book that took a little bit to draw me in, but the longer I listened the more I needed to know. Eventually, it had my full attention. The characters were well-developed and their emotions felt believable in each situation. I loved getting both sides of the story.
My Concerns
This is a very small concern, but at times the narration was delivered without expression and in a little too much of a monotone. However, other times it was fine.
Also, in the beginning, it moved rather slowly, which I’m sure would have bothered me more if I’d been reading rather than listening.
Lastly, one aspect regarding Ruth’s attitude didn’t quite make sense until very near the end. (I won’t say more, since I’m a person who thinks reading a synopsis is too much information See picture.)
Final Thoughts
Though for the most part the pacing worked for me, it might be a pretty slow start for book readers. However, most will find it original and enjoy that the suspense grows to a satisfying ending.
I definitely found the audiobook worth listening to, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it.
My thanks to Netgalley and Macmillian Audio for the opportunity to listen to this book and post a review without any stipulations.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sarah Pekkanen is the #1 New York Times bestselling co-author of four novels of suspense including THE GOLDEN COUPLE and THE WIFE BETWEEN US, and the solo author of the thriller GONE TONIGHT, will be published Aug. 1, 2023. Colleen Hoover says it is “Riveting, original and powerful. I’m a huge fan of Sarah Pekkanen’s books, and GONE TONIGHT is her best yet!”
Sarah is also the author of eight USA Today and internationally-bestselling solo novels: THE OPPOSITE OF ME, SKIPPING A BEAT, THESE GIRLS, THE BEST OF US, CATCHING AIR, THINGS YOU DON’T SAY, THE PERFECT NEIGHBORS and THE EVER AFTER. Her books have been translated into dozens of languages.
In her free time, Sarah is a dedicated volunteer for rescue animals and serves as Ambassador for RRSA India, working hands-on to vaccinate and heal street dogs in Anand, India. She also volunteers weekly for a horse rescue group in Maryland, mucking stalls and helping mistreated horses heal.
Sarah lives just outside of Washington, D.C. with her family. Please follow Sarah on Facebook and Instagram @sarahpekkanen and visit www.sarahpekkanen.com
If you purchase through the links in this post, I may earn a small commission. This helps support Pick a Good Book and allows us to continue bringing you great content.
