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It's One of Us
It's One of Us: the #1 suspense novel you have to read in 2023 | J.T. Ellison
26 posts | 29 read | 18 to read
Everybody lies. Even the ones you think you know best of all . . . Olivia Bender designs exquisite home interiors that satisfy the most demanding clients. But her own deepest desire cant be fulfilled by marble counters or the perfect rug. She desperately wants to be a mother. Fertility treatments and IVF keep failing. And just when she feels shes at her lowest point, the police deliver shocking news to Olivia and her husband, Park. DNA results show that the prime suspect in a murder investigation is Parks son. Olivia is relieved, knowing this is a mistake. Despite their desire, the Benders dont have any children. Then comes the confession. Many years ago, Park donated sperm to a clinic. He has no idea how many times it was soldor how many children he has sired. As the murder investigation goes deeper, more terrible truths come to light. With every revelation, Olivia must face the unthinkable. The man she married has fathered a killer. But can she hold that against him when she keeps such dark secrets of her own? This twisting, emotionally layered thriller explores the lies we tell to keep a marriage together--or break each other apart . . .
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PageShifter
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Mehso-so

Characters weren't likable, but behind them were clearly author's own experiences. I really appreciate that part.

This was mysterious, but had so many unbelievable things happening that I took this as a soap opera.

The ending felt rushed and didn't answer to all questions either. That was disappointing.

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cjk
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These two thrillers are keeping me company this weekend. 🎧📚❄️🌬️

#weekendreads @rachelsbrittain

22 likes1 stack add
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Bec_lectic
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Pickpick

Not a super twisty thriller but a good engaging story nonetheless. Olivia and Park suffer from infertility but as their struggles deepen their world is overturned. A dead body is found in a lake with DNA evidence that indicates Park has a son. This wild story delves into the ethics of sperm donation and mental instability that feeds you all clues to put the puzzle together but still leaves the reader with one twist at the end. Good read!

45 likes3 stack adds
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Evita
Pickpick

5 out of 5

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Kris10H
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Mehso-so

Book #76
It was okay. I liked the premise, and the writing was good. It just wasn't as "thrilling" as I would like from a thriller.

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Rachiiebookdragon
Pickpick

I listened to this one via BorrowBox,
I mostly enjoyed it but a difficult subject.

Read for reading challenges.

4/5

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amdsarahjenkins
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Pickpick

Brave and beautiful

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bookandbedandtea
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Mehso-so

I've been unimpressed with most of the books I've read this year, and most of them have good reviews, so I'm starting to wonder if it's me. Maybe I should stop doing ratings.
This book has an interesting set up and deals with the ethics of sperm donation, specifically how many times should one donor's sperm be used.
Park and Olivia are struggling with infertility (TWs galore) so it's a shock when the police tell them DNA from a murder can be ⬇️

bookandbedandtea ⬆️ traced to Park's son. How can this be when they have no children?? Turns out he donated sperm 20 years ago and never told his wife, esp given their fertility struggle, is none too pleased by this omission. Furthermore, a group of children of donors have run their DNA and found they all share the same donor. 28 when the story begins! There's already a LOT going on and we've barely touched on murder. The culprit is clear pretty early on and ⬇️ 1y
bookandbedandtea ⬆️ begins to get his own chapters about 50% so this isn't a whodunit. It seems more about why he's doing it. Is it something in his DNA? We learn that more than one female has died in Park's proximity- is he a murderer himself? Has he passed something on to his son? We also have a love triangle, Park starting to meet "his children," the secrets Olivia is hiding, & interesting snippets about the detectives on the case that never go anywhere. ⬇️ 1y
bookandbedandtea ⬆️ It was all a bit too much for me. Maybe if either of the MCs was remotely likable (that goes a long way with me) I would have liked this more. 1y
See All 6 Comments
TheBookgeekFrau This sounds overwhelming, which is too bad bc just the sperm donor issues alone would be interesting. 1y
bookandbedandtea @TheBookgeekFrau If the story had stuck to their fertility issues with the reveal of Park's donor kids, & even the love triangle, we would have had an interesting family drama. Or we could have had an intriguing mystery based around a donor kid being a murderer & BTW is Park one too? But it feels like the author had two good ideas that both hinged on sperm donation and tried to mix them together rather than do justice to both stories. 1y
TheBookgeekFrau @bookandbedandtea Too bad 😕 But thank you for sparing me from reading it 😁 1y
30 likes1 stack add6 comments
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AudiobookingWithLeah
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Pickpick

4¼⭐
If you want to listen to something a little different that doesn‘t have a bunch of twists inserted for shock factor; just an engaging, thought-provoking storyline; this will definitely fit that bill. There was only one matter of contention holding this back…one narrator for several POVs. I was often left confused as to whose head I was in. Of course, there are plenty of others who prefer having one narrator, no matter how many POVs there are.

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Kappadeemom
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I‘m off until Tuesday!!! Going camping and spending the weekend 📚📚

AmyG Enjoy! 2y
Ruthiella Nice! Have fun 🤩 2y
44 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Kgaudiuso
Pickpick

This was a great twisty turny fun one to read! I loved the very very end. Total surprise!

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BeeMagical
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Pickpick

Book 89🎧 4⭐️

Ooo this one was a goodie. I wanted a little more from the ending but overall a great thriller!

#spermdonationgonewrong

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deeannloso
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Pickpick

Wow! What a roller coaster ride! This book has twists and turns and keeps you guessing all the time: is it her, is it him, who is it? I love J.T. Ellison. Her books are well written and this one is as well.

Rachiiebookdragon This one looks interesting 😊 2y
deeannloso @Rachiiebookdragon It‘s really good! 2y
39 likes4 stack adds2 comments
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NikkiKey94
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Pickpick

I‘ve only read a few other books by J. T. Ellison and I need to change that asap! This book was so good and the twists and turns were crazy. I definitely look forward to more by Ellison and am adding the rest of her books to my TBR!

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BkClubCare
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Pickpick

A decent audiobook, I usually enjoy Whelan as a narrator. This story had a LOT going on and multiple people to distrust! I think it was well paced, and could probably agree with a friend who called it “ridiculously entertaining” and then gave it 2 stars out of 5 😂 but I will give it 4. I am counting the pie tin mention as
#PieinLit #LitPie (and yes, typing error in my clip 🙄)

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deeannloso
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“Olivia Bender…desperately wants to be a mother. Fertility treatments and IVF keep failing. And just when she feels she‘s at her lowest point, the police deliver shocking news to Olivia and her husband, Park.

DNA results show that the prime suspect in a murder investigation is Park‘s son…Then comes the confession. Many years ago, Park donated sperm to a clinic. He has no idea how many times it was sold—or how many children he has sired.”

Gabbymags123 Mmmm seems interesting 2y
34 likes1 stack add1 comment
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paper.reveries
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Pickpick

This was the fast paced thriller I needed! Olivia and Park seem to have it all. But inside, Liv is slowly breaking apart. She's just gone through her fifth miscarriage and is ready to give up on her dream of becoming a mother. Suddenly, they receive news that Park is far from infertile. So far 28 children have come forward... and none of them are Liv's. Not only that, but one of them is a murderer. Available now!

36 likes1 stack add
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BkClubCare
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Misleading photo because I am not 🎧 listening to this as I get a pedicure, but I did just start this audiobook today and enjoyed while driving to the salon. Does that count? 😂 #audiobook #bookclub #thriller #IamSObadatthrillers

41 likes1 stack add
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Bklover
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Pickpick

I have gotten very little else done while listening to this book. I‘m not one of those people‘s who can speed up the audio, so I‘ve been riveted for hours (and hours). Multiple viewpoints, including a murderer, and a lot of infertility discussion (trigger warning), but this one was a winner. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

paper.reveries Starting this one now! Your post has me looking forwarded to it. :) 2y
Bklover @daisyheadmaesie I hope you enjoy it! You‘ll have to let me know!❤️ 2y
71 likes1 stack add2 comments
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ashleyn
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Pickpick

So many storylines happening in this but still so good. A marriage suffering through infertility, a husband fathering MANY children, and questions about multiple murders. I definitely had the wrong suspect all the way to the end. The Author's Note was a bit triggering for those going through infertility struggles, but I can always appreciate when more light is shed on this topic.

4/2023

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Bklover
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Started this yesterday and so far it‘s just so good. I seem to really like JT Ellison‘s books- listening to the audiobook for this one!❤️❤️. Another #becauseoflitsy

Hooked_on_books I loved this one! I gasped at one point! 2y
Bklover @Hooked_on_books I am about halfway and I can‘t stop listening!!! 2y
61 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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Hooked_on_books
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Pickpick

Olivia and Park have been successful in their careers but have struggled to have children, suffering miscarriages and many failures of IVF. So when the police come to their door one day saying there‘s been a DNA match in the case of a missing woman connected to Park‘s son, shit gets interesting! This was such a fun book, with some plot points I didn‘t seem coming. I was riveted the whole time.

TrishB Great review ?? this is so expensive here. (d2 for hardback and over (cc for kindle. Jeez. 2y
45 likes1 comment
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SilversReviews
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Pickpick

Lots of drama, secrets, surprises, and intense situations that keep you on the edge of your seat.

Another excellent read for fans of J. T. Ellison. 5/5

FULL REVIEW: https://tinyurl.com/68d8xkr6

@thrillerchick
@harpercollins

38 likes1 stack add
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Reecaspieces
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Pickpick
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Mpcacher
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Pickpick

This is a story inspired by the author's own struggles with infertility. When a woman experiences yet another miscarriage and then finds out her husband has fathered numerous children by way of a sperm bank and one of them is the prime suspect in a murder, it may just be too much. This is an easy read and entertaining thriller about people with lots of secrets and I admit I did not see foresee the reveal at the end. 4/5 stars.

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SilversReviews
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FULL REVIEW WILL 2/25.

A WOW read with a GREAT title!!

When a dead body is found and DNA at the scene links the killer to her husband, many questions get asked.

The main question being: Did you KNOW you had a child?

All of this leads to lots of drama, secrets, surprises, and intense situations that keep you on the edge of your seat.

Another excellent read for fans of J. T. Ellison. 5/5

@thrillerchick
@harlequinbooks