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But when the teens encounter their grandmother for the first time, things suddenly get a lot more complicated...

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But when the teens encounter their grandmother for the first time, things suddenly get a lot more complicated...
complicated. As the cousins investigate, secrets come thick and fast. But some secrets are best left alone, and some people will do anything to make sure they stay buried...


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* ConvenientMiscarriage: [[spoiler:[[AvertedTrope Averted]] horribly with Allison. After the initial shock of learning she's pregnant and the heartbreak of being ghosted by the father, she decides she's open to the idea of having a baby, and that with her family's resources she's in a better position to cope than most teenage girls. ''Then'' she has a miscarriage, and it breaks her heart all over again.]]

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The Storys are the envy of their neighbours: owners of the largest property on their East Coast island, they are rich, beautiful, and close. Until it all falls apart. The four children are suddenly dropped by their mother with a single sentence:

''You know what you did.''

They never hear from her again.

Years later, when 18-year-old cousins Aubrey, Milly and Jonah Story receive a mysterious invitation to spend the summer at their grandmother's resort, they have no choice but to follow their curiosity and meet the woman who's been such an enigma their entire lives.

This summer, the teenagers are determined to discover the truth at the heart of their family. But some secrets are better left alone.

''The Cousins'' is a 2020 standalone from Creator/KarenMMcManus, author of ''Literature/OneOfUsIsLying'' and ''Literature/TwoCanKeepASecret''. Another standalone, ''You'll be the Death of Me'', is due in 2021.

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The Storys are the envy of Years after their neighbours: owners of the largest property on their East Coast island, they are rich, beautiful, and close. Until it all falls apart. The four children are suddenly dropped parents were disowned by their mother with a single sentence:

''You know what you did.''

They never hear from her again.

Years later, when 18-year-old cousins Aubrey, Milly
mother, eighteen-year-old Millie, Aubrey and Jonah Story receive a mysterious invitation are summoned to spend the summer at their grandmother's resort, they have no choice but family estate for a summer.

For Audrey, it's a chance
to follow their curiosity and meet make her father proud. For Millie, it's a chance to solve the woman who's been such an enigma their entire lives.

This summer, the teenagers are determined to discover the truth at the heart
mystery of their family. parents' estrangement. And for Jonah, it's a chance for revenge.

But some secrets are better left alone.

when the teens encounter their grandmother for the first time, things suddenly get a lot more complicated...

''The Cousins'' is a 2020 standalone from Creator/KarenMMcManus, author of ''Literature/OneOfUsIsLying'' ''Literature/OneOfUsIsLying'', ''Literature/TwoCanKeepASecret'', and ''Literature/TwoCanKeepASecret''. Another standalone, ''You'll be the Death of Me'', is due in 2021.
''Literature/YoullBeTheDeathOfMe''.
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* BlueBloods: The Story family can trace its roots back to the ''Mayflower'' and more or less owns Gull Cove Island. Jonah describes their level of wealth as, "fuck-you money and then some."

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* BlueBloods: BlueBlood: The Story family can trace its roots back to the ''Mayflower'' and more or less owns Gull Cove Island. Jonah describes their level of wealth as, "fuck-you money and then some."
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* GenderBlenderName: Aubrey is technically a boy's name (the female version would be Audrey), lending weight to Aubrey's belief that her father wanted a boy.
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''The Cousins'' is a 2020 standalone from Karen M. [=McManus=], author of ''Literature/OneOfUsIsLying'' and ''Literature/TwoCanKeepASecret''.

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''The Cousins'' is a 2020 standalone from Karen M. [=McManus=], Creator/KarenMMcManus, author of ''Literature/OneOfUsIsLying'' and ''Literature/TwoCanKeepASecret''.
''Literature/TwoCanKeepASecret''. Another standalone, ''You'll be the Death of Me'', is due in 2021.

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* AlliterativeFamily: All of Mildred Story's children have names starting with the letter A, presumably to match their father Abraham. Adam, the eldest, is the only one who continues it into the next generation.



* FamilyThemeNaming: All of Mildred Story's children have names starting with the letter A, presumably to match their father Abraham. Adam, the eldest, is the only one who continues it into the next generation.
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* FamilyThemeNaming: All of Mildred Story's children have names starting with the letter A, presumably to match their father Abraham. Adam, the eldest, is the only one who continues it into the next generation.

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* BewareTheNiceOnes: Aubrey is bad at standing up for herself, letting her father and her boyfriend push her around. She strongly suspects that Mildred Story chooses her as TheFavorite grandchild because she's the demure one. However, when her father pushes her a little too far, haranguing her over the phone for not being "proactive" in charming Mildred, she [[BerserkButton finally blows up at him]], asking if he means "proactive" like he was [[spoiler:in knocking up her swimming coach]] and hangs up on him. [[spoiler:She's also the one who solves the mystery after stealing a security card to access the house.]]

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* BewareTheNiceOnes: Aubrey is bad at standing up for herself, letting her father and her boyfriend push her around. She strongly suspects that Mildred Story chooses her as TheFavorite TheFavourite grandchild because she's the demure one. However, when her father pushes her a little too far, haranguing her over the phone for not being "proactive" in charming Mildred, she [[BerserkButton finally blows up at him]], asking if he means "proactive" like he was [[spoiler:in knocking up her swimming coach]] and hangs up on him. [[spoiler:She's also the one who solves the mystery after stealing a security card to access the house.]]


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* NeverMyFault: Adam and Anders Story.
** Adam Story cannot handle criticism of any kind, viewing [[spoiler:his infidelity]] as "something that happened to our family rather than something he did."
** Anders Story ran a pyramid scheme that financially ruined people, [[spoiler:including Jonah North's parents]], walked away with no consequences and views his victims as adults who ''chose'' to invest their money with him.
** [[spoiler:Both of them claim to have no idea what "You know what you did" refers to, although they both took part in murdering Matt. Granted, they might not know why their mother would disinherit them and their siblings over it, but the fact that Adam referred to the murder site in his book as "the place where it all went wrong" sort of indicates he knew something.]]
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* BewareTheNiceOnes: Aubrey is bad at standing up for herself, letting her father and her boyfriend push her around. She strongly suspects that Mildred Story chooses her as TheFavorite grandchild because she's the demure one. However, when her father pushes her a little too far, haranguing her over the phone for not being "proactive" in charming Mildred, she [[BerserkButton finally blows up at him]], asking if he means "proactive" like he was [[spoiler:in knocking up her swimming coach]] and hangs up on him. [[spoiler:She's also the one who solves the mystery after stealing a security card to access the house.]]


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* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler:In the climax, Teresa Ryan has Aubrey and Archer at gunpoint, intending to kill Aubrey as payback for Adam killing Ryan. Archer gets her to aim at him instead by pretending to have been in on Matt's murder, when in fact he knew nothing about it. Fortunately the "sacrifice" part is averted as Aubrey takes advantage of the gun being off her to tackle Teresa.]]


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** When the cousins are on their way to dinner with the lawyer, Aubrey is startled to hear that one of the beaches they pass is called Cutty Bay, as Cutter Bay is a location in her father's novel described as "where it all went wrong." [[spoiler:Turns out this is where he and Anders drowned Matt Ryan.]]
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* LikeParentLikeSpouse: A variation occurs when Aubrey realizes that her relationship with her boyfriend is very similar to her relationship with her father, much to her disgust.
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* AbusiveParents: Adam Story is the emotional variety towards his daughter Aubrey, treating her well only if he feels she's appropriately worshipful towards him and withholding affection if he feels she has displeased him.


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* CoolUncle: [[spoiler: Archer]] ends up becoming this, especially to Aubrey.
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* TallDarkAndHandsome: Jonah certainly applies, which is one of the things that confuses Milly upon first meeting him, [[spoiler: when she thinks he's her actual cousin.]]
** Adam Story also applies, both in the past and the present day, in spite of his [[NeverMyFault extremely]] [[ItsAllAboutMe unpleasant personality.]]
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** When the cousins meet Hazel Baxter-Clement to be interviewed for her thesis on island history, she seems to forget who she's talking to and repeats some gossipy rumours, including that Allison Story was [[TeenPregnancy knocked up]] [[BrotherSisterIncest by one of her brothers]].

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** When the cousins meet Hazel Baxter-Clement to be interviewed for her thesis on island history, she seems to forget who she's talking to and repeats some gossipy rumours, including that Allison Story was [[TeenPregnancy knocked up]] up by]] [[BrotherSisterIncest by one of her brothers]].

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* AmoralAttourney: The Story family lawyer enacted and enforced the disinheriting of the Story children without a word of explanation. [[spoiler:Covering up Mildred Story's death and impersonating her to access the family estate was also his idea.]]

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* AmoralAttourney: AmoralAttorney: The Story family lawyer enacted and enforced the disinheriting of the Story children without a word of explanation. [[spoiler:Covering up Mildred Story's death and impersonating her to access the family estate was also his idea.]]



** In the backstory, Anders Story ran a pyramid scheme that lost many people their savings. However, no-one could prove he did anything worse than give bad financial advice. [[spoiler:Jonah North is posing as Jonah Story in order to prevent any possibility of Anders being re-inherited.]]



* RunningGag: ''Is'' "re-inherited" a word?



* {{Squick}}: Jonah is clearly attracted to Millie at first sight, before realising she's his cousin, and remains hyperaware of her appearance afterwards. [[spoiler:They're not related, as he's an impostor, but he can't exactly tell her that.]]

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* {{Squick}}: {{Squick}}:
**
Jonah is clearly attracted to Millie at first sight, before realising she's his cousin, and remains hyperaware of her appearance afterwards. [[spoiler:They're not related, as he's an impostor, but he can't exactly tell her that.]]]]
** When the cousins meet Hazel Baxter-Clement to be interviewed for her thesis on island history, she seems to forget who she's talking to and repeats some gossipy rumours, including that Allison Story was [[TeenPregnancy knocked up]] [[BrotherSisterIncest by one of her brothers]].
** A mass example of this occurs when [[spoiler:Jonah and Millie are caught making out by ''everyone'' at the Summer Gala, all of whom think they're cousins]].

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* AmoralAttourney: The Story family lawyer enacted and enforced the disinheriting of the Story children without a word of explanation. [[spoiler:Covering up Mildred Story's death and impersonating her to access the family estate was also his idea.]]



* TheAtoner: [[spoiler:Dr Baxter was trying to come clean with Archer Story about TheConspiracy, but due to advancing dementia he's unable to get his point across before his murder.]]



** [[spoiler:Paula Donahue, who has been posing as Mildred Story for twenty four years as she, her sister, the lawyer and the family doctor bled the estate dry, gets away clean with whatever cash she was able to get offshore.]]

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** [[spoiler:Paula Donahue, who has been posing as Mildred Story for twenty four twenty-four years as she, her sister, the lawyer and the family doctor bled the estate dry, gets away clean with whatever cash she was able to get offshore.]]
* ObfuscatingInsanity: Dr Baxter really does have dementia, but he intentionally jogs the coffee table and fakes an episode to interrupt his granddaughter's interview with the cousins. Jonah thinks it's because the granddaughter is [[InnocentlyInsensitive making Millie uncomfortable]], but [[spoiler:after Dr Baxter's murder]] realises it was because she was about to reveal a secret.
* RevealingCoverUp: Mildred Story's lawyer is so adamant about getting the cousins to leave Gull Cove Island, it makes Millie especially determined to find out what happened twenty-four years earlier.
* RevengeBeforeReason:
** [[spoiler:When Millie and Jonah are caught making out at the Summer Gala, Jonah ''could'' have protected Millie by explaining that they're not really cousins because he's an impostor, but instead chose to keep up the charade in an attempt to ensure Anders Story does not get re-inherited. He comes to regret that later, when he realises he cares more about Millie than his revenge.]]
** [[spoiler:Jonah North, upon being exposed as an impostor, confronts Anders Story for ruining his parents. Anders retorts that the Norths were adults who chose to risk their savings on investments.
]]




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* {{Squick}}: Jonah is clearly attracted to Millie at first sight, before realising she's his cousin, and remains hyperaware of her appearance afterwards. [[spoiler:They're not related, as he's an impostor, but he can't exactly tell her that.]]
* WhamLine:
** When the cousins arrive at the resort [[spoiler:and realise their grandmother had no idea they were coming]].
** [[spoiler:Jonah is an impostor.]]
** [[spoiler:Archer Story is on the island incognito...]]
** [[spoiler:...and is the person who really invited them to the island.]]
** [[spoiler:''She didn't have a birthmark.'']]
* WouldHurtAChild: [[spoiler:When Teresa Ryan has Aubrey at gunpoint, she muses that she'd like to kill Adam Story's only child, as he killed her son Matt.]]
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Your Cheating Heart is an index.


** Adam Story (Aubrey's father) is TheFavourite, the handsome, athletic, charming one. He views himself as a misunderstood genius on the strength of having written a bestselling book ten years earlier and nothing since. That book was about a GaryStu author who can't get away from his legions of fans. [[NeverMyFault Refuses to take responsibility for anything,]] whether it's [[spoiler:[[YourCheatingHeart knocking up Aubrey's swimming coach]]]] or [[spoiler:his part in Matt Ryan's murder]].

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** Adam Story (Aubrey's father) is TheFavourite, the handsome, athletic, charming one. He views himself as a misunderstood genius on the strength of having written a bestselling book ten years earlier and nothing since. That book was about a GaryStu author who can't get away from his legions of fans. [[NeverMyFault Refuses to take responsibility for anything,]] whether it's [[spoiler:[[YourCheatingHeart knocking [[spoiler:knocking up Aubrey's swimming coach]]]] coach]] or [[spoiler:his part in Matt Ryan's murder]].
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* BigScrewedUpFamily: The Storys.
** Adam Story (Aubrey's father) is TheFavourite, the handsome, athletic, charming one. He views himself as a misunderstood genius on the strength of having written a bestselling book ten years earlier and nothing since. That book was about a GaryStu author who can't get away from his legions of fans. [[NeverMyFault Refuses to take responsibility for anything,]] whether it's [[spoiler:[[YourCheatingHeart knocking up Aubrey's swimming coach]]]] or [[spoiler:his part in Matt Ryan's murder]].
** Anders Story (Jonah's father) is a CorruptCorporateExecutive who scammed people out of their savings [[KarmaHoudini and got away scott free]]. His LackOfEmpathy is his defining trait, viewing other people as merely [[ItsAllAboutMe tools to get what he wants]] and [[NeverMyFault taking no responsibility]] for the damage he does.
** Allison Story (Millie's mother) is an IceQueen whose marriage fell apart because she couldn't stop pushing people away.
** Archer Story is TheAlcoholic and basically a drifter.


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* DistinguishingMark: Aubrey has a port wine stain on her arm, identical to the one her grandmother Mildred has on her hand.

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''The Cousins'' is a 2020 standalone from Karen M. McManus, author of ''Literaure/OneOfUsIsLying'' and ''TwoCanKeepASecret''.

to:

''The Cousins'' is a 2020 standalone from Karen M. McManus, [=McManus=], author of ''Literaure/OneOfUsIsLying'' ''Literature/OneOfUsIsLying'' and ''TwoCanKeepASecret''.
''Literature/TwoCanKeepASecret''.

(Please note that this page has been heavily spoilered due to its suspense-heavy plot and very recent release. Proceed with caution.)



* BigSecret:
** Jonah Story [[spoiler:is really Jonah North, whose parents were bankrupted by Anders Story. The real Jonah Story persuaded him to take his place at Gull Cove Island so he could go to the summer camp he'd been accepted to]].
** [[spoiler:Allison [[TeenPregnancy got pregnant at eighteen]] by local boy Matt Ryan, Teresa Ryan's son and the third point in Anders' LoveTriangle with Kayla.]]
** Because of the above, [[spoiler: Adam and Anders decided to MurderTheHypotenuse.]]
* BlueBloods: The Story family can trace its roots back to the ''Mayflower'' and more or less owns Gull Cove Island. Jonah describes their level of wealth as, "fuck-you money and then some."
* BystanderSyndrome: [[spoiler:Allison Story didn't kill Matt Ryan, and couldn't have saved him. But she ''could'' have reported her older brothers and didn't, hence Teresa Ryan's grudge against her.]]



* DramaticIrony: At the Summer Gala, Millie hopes her mother was happier at her own gala. This comes right after the flashback chapter revealing that Allison probably felt even worse.



** [[spoiler:Millie also recognises Chaz Jones as the missing Uncle Archer when he appears in an 80's cover band and sings ''Music/{{Toto}}'s ''Africa'', which Millie has seen the Story siblings singing together in an old video.]]



* WhamLine: So many.

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* WhamLine: So many.
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[[quoteright:326:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/the_cousins.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:326:You Know What You Did.]]

The Storys are the envy of their neighbours: owners of the largest property on their East Coast island, they are rich, beautiful, and close. Until it all falls apart. The four children are suddenly dropped by their mother with a single sentence:

''You know what you did.''

They never hear from her again.

Years later, when 18-year-old cousins Aubrey, Milly and Jonah Story receive a mysterious invitation to spend the summer at their grandmother's resort, they have no choice but to follow their curiosity and meet the woman who's been such an enigma their entire lives.

This summer, the teenagers are determined to discover the truth at the heart of their family. But some secrets are better left alone.

''The Cousins'' is a 2020 standalone from Karen M. McManus, author of ''Literaure/OneOfUsIsLying'' and ''TwoCanKeepASecret''.

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!!Tropes:

* ArcWords: "You know what you did." The words with which Mildred Story disinherited her four children twenty four years before the events of the novel.
* DeadPersonImpersonation: [[spoiler:Mildred Story died of a heart condition twenty four years ago. The Story children were ''really'' disinherited by her assistant, her lawyer and the family doctor.]]
* KarmaHoudini:
** [[spoiler:It's noted that there's no actual proof that Adam and Anders Story had anything to do with Matt's death, as the only testimony comes from a now-dead fraudster. In fact, the publicity briefly puts Adam's book back on the bestseller list.]]
** [[spoiler:Paula Donahue, who has been posing as Mildred Story for twenty four years as she, her sister, the lawyer and the family doctor bled the estate dry, gets away clean with whatever cash she was able to get offshore.]]
* SpottingTheThread:
** [[spoiler:Millie realises Jonah isn't who he says he is when she sees him eat shrimp, as the real Jonah is allergic.]]
** [[spoiler:When Aubrey spills coffee on Mildred, forcing her to remove her gloves, she sees that Mildred doesn't have the DistinguishingMark that Aubrey inherited from her.]]
* WhamLine: So many.

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''This entire family is built on secrets, right? It's the Story legacy.''

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