I have to admit I was a bit starstruck joining this tour. I tend to veer away from YA these days but, when it is Karen M. McManus, how can you say no?
Goodreads Blurb
The Cousins by Karen M. McManus
Milly, Aubrey, and Jonah Story are cousins, but they barely know each another, and they’ve never even met their grandmother. Rich and reclusive, she disinherited their parents before they were born. So when they each receive a letter inviting them to work at her island resort for the summer, they’re surprised… and curious.
Their parents are all clear on one point—not going is not an option. This could be the opportunity to get back into Grandmother’s good graces. But when the cousins arrive on the island, it’s immediately clear that she has different plans for them. And the longer they stay, the more they realize how mysterious—and dark—their family’s past is.
The entire Story family has secrets. Whatever pulled them apart years ago isn’t over—and this summer, the cousins will learn everything.
Review
So, was it worth taking on a genre I usually avoid for the sake of a famous author. Yes. I really enjoyed The Cousins. There were some excellent twists that I didn’t see coming and the plot certainly kept the pages turning. However, if I’m to be perfectly honest, it wasn’t dark enough for how I like my thrillers. In this case, especially considering the complexity of the Story family, I would consider it a family drama instead.
The other thing that kept me from loving The Cousins was that I found it hard to connect with the teenage main characters (normal, I guess, considering I’m 32). Saying that, I did like Aubrey, Millie, and Jonah. The alternating chapters considering all three point-of-views made for a well-rounded story, and it was nice to see them come together and try to write the wrongs of their parents. If I had to choose a favourite of the three, I would choose Aubrey as I found her to have the most layers to her character.
Overall, I did enjoy The Cousins. In terms of the YA genre, it’s a book that stood out to be, and I liked the overall plot.
The Cousins by Karen M. McManus is available to buy now.
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Joyful Antidotes 
Great review! 🙂