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Book Review of The Girl on the Train: A Novel

The Girl on the Train: A Novel
emeraldmagick avatar reviewed on + 31 more book reviews


4.5 stars... better than I expected. Books with alot of hype, it's 60/40 for me most of the time.. the 60% being I either: don't care for it and couldn't finish or I did finish it but couldn't see how it was so popular.

This one fell into the latter 40%, for the most part.
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The writing kept me interested, slowly weaving things together with the different POVs, and filling in the background and laying the groundwork for everyone. No one is a saint in this you find out, as different revelations and secrets come to the surface.

Things you think you know or guess are up-ended later on and other leave you with a sense of dread and fascination. I found myself going back and forth a few times with different characters.

Rachel is... difficult to sympathize with. Actually, while I liked parts of each narrator I didn't particularly care for any of them and yet I did care, if that makes sense. (The best way I can put it).

Around 39% is when it became even more compelling for me. It was very hard to put down and I found myself going through my morning routine faster to get started on it.

The twist I suspected near to when it happened, but it was a fleeting thought at first. I actually was thinking of someone else entirely before the the true perp showed their colors. It was surprising but also not a 'big twist' really (to me anyway). It was shocking and cold-blooded in the end but it also felt, "been there done that" in a way.

The dread and uncertainty almost felt like it's own person at times, watching from the shadows.. ready to pounce when the moments where right.

It was done very well don't get me wrong, I just wasn't as stunned as I should have been. Still, this was an excellent read and I would recommend it, just don't read too many reviews first ;-).

Would I read again? Probably:) It's a good book to get lost in.

Happy reading!