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ARC Review: The Golden Child by Lucinda Berry

 



Genre: Psychological Thriller

Expected: January 12, 2027

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) 




Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for this gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The story focuses on Ava and Bentley, siblings with only eleven months apart and inseparable growing up. Yet they are perceived very differently. Ava is the golden child, disciplined, driven, and destined for great things. While Bentley is seen as the one who is restless, reckless, and constantly gets in trouble. Everything changes in one night when Ava makes a terrible mistake. She gets behind the wheel and hits her classmate. Terrified that her future will be ruined, she calls the one person she trusts most, Bentley. He arrives within minutes and makes a split-second decision: he takes the blame upon himself. What follows is a cascade of lies and mounting pressure that builds every day. Bentley carries a burden that no one should have to bear until eventually, he reaches his limit. He wants the truth to come out, and for someone to finally listen.

This story is not really about the accident or murder. At its core, it is a deep exploration of parental favoritism. It examines just how far some parents will go to protect their favorite child. Watching these dynamics unfold is uncomfortable and frustrating. While the parents’ choices are most of the time bad for their children, the book also shows us that they are not acting out of malice, but rather out of fear, confusion, and what they believe is in their children’s best interests. It is a complicated, painful, and very real portrayal of parents' lives.

This is my first book by Lucinda Berry, and I can understand why her books are so widely loved. She writes with a style that draws you in and keeps you hooked. As a psychological thriller, this book keeps you tense and emotionally invested from start to finish. I particularly love how she constructs her twists. They do not come out of nowhere, but are built up through subtle hints along the way. By the time everything falls into place, the reveals feel earned, logical, and all the more powerful for it.

Overall, The Golden Child is an emotionally thrilling read that left me feeling frustrated and heartbroken. It is a compelling thriller, but more than that, it is a powerful reminder of just how damaging favoritism can be, even when it is unintentional.

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