The Cousins
Karen M. McManus's "The Cousins" is a young adult mystery thriller centered around Milly, Aubrey, and Jonah Story, three estranged cousins who have never met their reclusive, wealthy grandmother. After their parents were disinherited years ago with a cryptic note, the cousins receive an unexpected invitation to work at their grandmother's island resort for the summer. Driven by their parents' insistence and their own curiosity, they uncover a dark web of family secrets, lies, deception, and multiple murders that span decades. The novel employs a multi-POV narrative, including flashbacks to unravel the mystery of their family's past. Aimed at a teen audience, the book delves into mature themes of family dysfunction, addiction, and complex relationships, making it suitable for readers who enjoy suspenseful narratives with intricate plot twists.
Concerns
Violence
HighThe central mystery of the novel involves multiple instances of murder and a subsequent cover-up. These acts are significant plot drivers, detailing past deaths and their repercussions on the Story family.
The family's past includes a murder that leads to "several others in the following years." Specifically, Matt Ryan drowns after being tricked by Anders, with Allison helping to cover up his death. The true grandmother, Mildred, was also murdered, and her assistant Theresa then impersonated her for two decades.
Romance and Sexual Content
HighThe book contains multiple references to premarital sexual activity, adultery, and passionate kissing, though explicit sexual scenes are not detailed. These instances are integral to the family's secret-laden history and ongoing relationships.
Stories of past "sexual hook ups" among the Story siblings with other teens and young adults are mentioned, with implied sexual activity. One young woman becomes pregnant from a beach interlude and later suffers a miscarriage. An adult Story sibling commits adultery, having sex with a high school coach, leading to an out-of-wedlock child. Milly and a teen her age engage in passionate kissing, and there's a provocative scene where Milly and Jonah (believed to be cousins) kiss publicly.
Substance Use
HighSubstance use, specifically alcohol consumption and alcoholism, is a significant theme and character element. It features underage drinking and the severe consequences of addiction.
Uncle Asher is an alcoholic whose addiction repeatedly drives his drunken behavior, with flashbacks showing the early stages of his heavy drinking. Teen and young adult Story siblings frequently "slip bottles of booze" from their parents' stores and drink excessively at parties. Milly gets tipsy on champagne, staggers, and makes poor choices, while another teen carries a flask.
Scary & Intense Content
HighThe book is a young adult mystery/thriller filled with suspense, dark family secrets, and psychological intensity. The plot involves multiple murders, a lengthy deception, and underlying family trauma, creating a tense and unsettling atmosphere.
The novel is described as a "dark, dramatic family mystery" filled with "lies, deception and theft," including murder. Reviewers note it's 'darker' than other books by the author, with family secrets that are 'much darker than anything they thought was possible.' The story explores "family trauma" and the "sins of the father," while the Gothic Catmint House setting is characterized by "secrets, hidden rooms, and eventual destruction."
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
MediumThe novel includes LGBTQ characters and relationships. Uncle Asher is explicitly stated to be gay, and his romantic involvement with Edward Franklin, the resort's summer hire coordinator, is a plot point. There are also general implications of same-sex relationships among other characters.
The character Asher is identified as gay. It is revealed that Uncle Archer (Asher) was romantically involved with Edward Franklin, which played a role in orchestrating the cousins' invitation to the island. The narrative also broadly implies that some Story siblings had sexual hook-ups with individuals of the 'same sex' in the past.
Profanity
MediumOccasional instances of strong language are present throughout the novel, including f-words and s-words, alongside other milder crude terms. The language is not pervasive but appears in bursts.
The novel includes "occasional burst of profanity, including f- and s-words and some other lighter crudities."
Disrespect & Rebellion
MediumCharacters exhibit mild disrespect and rebellious attitudes towards authority figures and parental expectations. This is shown through sarcastic remarks, defiance of parental wishes, and attempts to circumvent rules, though these actions do not consistently lead to dangerous outcomes.
Milly is described as "sarcastic, bold and speaks her mind," indicating a tendency for outspokenness and potential defiance. Mildred Story, the grandmother, is noted as a "horrible example from an authority perspective." Jonah attempts to bribe an imposter to take his place at the resort, showing a clear act of rebellion against his parents' wishes for him to attend.
Witchcraft & Occult
LowNo elements of witchcraft, sorcery, occult practices, magic rituals, demons, spells, or supernatural occurrences are present in "The Cousins." The narrative is grounded in a realistic mystery and family drama.
The book contains no mention of Christian beliefs or other overt supernatural or occult systems.
Anti-Christian Themes
LowThe book contains no explicit Christian themes, either positive or negative. It does not engage with Christian beliefs, nor does it present any anti-Christian messages, mockery, or criticism. The worldview presented is secular, particularly in its assumptions about adolescent behavior.
Plugged In notes, "Christian Beliefs. None." and that "money is god for many of the Story family members," indicating a secular worldview focused on wealth. The review also points out "several secular assumptions in the story mix that kids are automatically going to start drinking alcohol and having sex in their teen years."
Other Notes
Target Demographic
14+ years old. The book is officially rated for ages 14 to 18 by Plugged In and 14-UP by Books-A-Million, due to its complex themes of murder, adultery, alcoholism, and implied sexual activity. It tackles mature subjects that require a certain level of emotional and cognitive development to process appropriately.
Additional Notes
The Cousins is a standalone young adult mystery novel. The narrative employs a multi-point-of-view structure, alternating between the three cousins (Milly, Aubrey, and Jonah) and Allison (Milly's mother) in flashbacks to 1996, which helps to gradually reveal the intricate family secrets. The book explores themes of inherited trauma, the impact of wealth, and the destructive nature of long-held secrets within a family structure.
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