Thank you Simon & Schuster Audio for the ALC and @BookClubFavorites & Gallery Books #partner, for the finished copy of Regrets Only in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: Gallery Books / Simon & Schuster ALC
Published: January 10, 2023
Summary:
In a fast-paced new novel in the vein of Big Little Lies, a single mom goes undercover to investigate a host of disturbing secrets held by the leaders of a local suburban parent-school association, including embezzlement, bribery, adultery, and murder—by the bestselling author of Wish You Were Gone.
Paige Lancaster, single mom and prodigal daughter, has returned to the East Coast from her prestigious, well-paid job in Los Angeles, writing for the smartest detective series on television. Something terrible happened to her back in Hollywood. Okay, two terrible things, one featuring a misplaced tire iron—and now she’s broke, homeless, and living with her widowed mother and eight-year-old daughter, Izzy, in her Connecticut hometown.
Paige needs to buckle down and find a new writing gig but first, she meets the movers and shakers of Izzy’s school’s Parent Booster Association, run by the intimidatingly gorgeous Ainsley Anderson, who just happens to be married to Paige’s old high school flame, John.
Then she shows up at the annual Parents and Pinot fundraiser, held at Ainsley and John’s dazzling mansion in the toniest part of town, where she’s caught in a compromising position with John, accidentally destroys the guest bathroom, overhears an incriminating conversation, and discovers that her purse has gone missing. And later that night, Ainsley turns up dead at the bottom of her own driveway.
Did she fall? Or was she pushed?
Paige may have only written about detectives, but she is convinced she can handle a little undercover sleuthing. After all, it’ll give her an excuse to spend more time with John. Still, she can’t help but wonder: could he be capable of murder? Or could one of the PBA members have planned a dastardly crime to reach the top? But the most important question of all: will Paige ever get her life back on track?
My thoughts:
This is the first book I’ve read by Kieran Scott, but when I saw it was being comped to Big Little Lies, I knew I had to request it…and I’m so glad I did! I absolutely loved it! It’s such a fun, binge-worthy read that I devoured in one afternoon!
Give me all the drama and secrets amongst the mom groups! I may not be a mom myself, but that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy all the drama this group seems to attract. This domestic suspense kept me engaged and entertained all the way through as we come to find that they all have their secrets so that when one of the group winds up dead, none are without motive.
I loved how this story was told from multiple perspectives, allowing us to get the story from different eyes throughout. It really brought out the different personalities and made for such a wild ride. It kept me guessing all the way through and I have to say I was quite shocked when all the pieces were finally put together.
I quite enjoyed this book and will definitely be checking out Kieran Scott’s other books, especially if they are as fun as this one!
Audio thoughts:
This was such a deliciously entertaining audiobook! It is narrated by multiple narrators – Amanda Dolan, Sura Siu, and Lanna Joffrey – and I thought they all did a fantastic job bringing this story to life. I ended up binge-listening to it in one afternoon because I just couldn’t put it down once I started…it’s the type of audiobook that once you start listening, you just keep finding stuff to do so you don’t have to stop until you get to the end!
