This was one of my highly anticipated novels of 2022!Ive seen lots of polarizing reviews for this one so I was eager to job in and see where I fell with my thoughts。 As per usual Ware fashion, we are hit with the tense atmosphere she is so good at building for her readers。 Pretty much everyone is a suspect。 At one point I even thought our narrator was?! All of the backstories are there for everyone and the way the characters were introduced really gave a fleshed out feel。 The novel is told in Be This was one of my highly anticipated novels of 2022!Ive seen lots of polarizing reviews for this one so I was eager to job in and see where I fell with my thoughts。 As per usual Ware fashion, we are hit with the tense atmosphere she is so good at building for her readers。 Pretty much everyone is a suspect。 At one point I even thought our narrator was?! All of the backstories are there for everyone and the way the characters were introduced really gave a fleshed out feel。 The novel is told in Before/After format, which helped keep the suspense and the mystery afloat。 I felt the big “twist” was believable and realistic although I did guess it。 I still enjoyed the journey and the reasoning’s behind everyone’s motives。 I will say this is a chunkier Ware novel at 432 pages, but I was never bored and I did read it quite quickly。 I enjoyed it! 。。。more
Ali (exercise_read_repeat),
4。5⭐️ Told using alternating “before” and “after” chapters, this is the story of a murder that occurs while Hannah and her friends attended Oxford。 10 years later, the man convicted of this murder dies while in prison。 Although this should provide relief and closure for Hannah and her friends, it does quite the opposite。 Hannah receives an email from a reporter who suggests that the real murderer is still at large。 Because it was Hannah’s evidence and tesitmoney that closed this case, she become 4。5⭐️ Told using alternating “before” and “after” chapters, this is the story of a murder that occurs while Hannah and her friends attended Oxford。 10 years later, the man convicted of this murder dies while in prison。 Although this should provide relief and closure for Hannah and her friends, it does quite the opposite。 Hannah receives an email from a reporter who suggests that the real murderer is still at large。 Because it was Hannah’s evidence and tesitmoney that closed this case, she becomes determined to discover what really happened。 Despite being 400 pages, this book moves quickly。 Ware takes the reader down a windy path to arrive at the truth, and I enjoyed every minute of it。 This story definitely reminded me of In My Dreams I Hold a Knife, as it is a thriller that takes place in an academia setting。 。。。more
Libriar,
3。5 stars。 This book is about the murder of April, an "It Girl", that happened at Oxford。 Several years after the murder, the death of the man convicted of the murder sets April's roommate on a path to reexamine what happened the night of the murder。 Could someone she's close to actually have been the murderer? I liked the "Before" parts - the Oxford setting and the young friendships - better than the "After" parts。 Overall the pace of the book was slow until the very end。 ARC courtesy of NetGal 3。5 stars。 This book is about the murder of April, an "It Girl", that happened at Oxford。 Several years after the murder, the death of the man convicted of the murder sets April's roommate on a path to reexamine what happened the night of the murder。 Could someone she's close to actually have been the murderer? I liked the "Before" parts - the Oxford setting and the young friendships - better than the "After" parts。 Overall the pace of the book was slow until the very end。 ARC courtesy of NetGalley。 。。。more
Kim Pet,
It’s all fun and games until。。 well you know how it goes。 When you have an It Girl, someone who seemingly has everything and everyone in her orbit, things aren’t always as they appear。 In true Ware fashion, the characters were enthralling, the plot lucrative with details and scheming, suspects and motives and I would have bet money that I had it figured out, but certainly would have lost。 Ware is the winner of 6 NYTimes bestsellers for a reason with her psychological crime thrillers, and she con It’s all fun and games until。。 well you know how it goes。 When you have an It Girl, someone who seemingly has everything and everyone in her orbit, things aren’t always as they appear。 In true Ware fashion, the characters were enthralling, the plot lucrative with details and scheming, suspects and motives and I would have bet money that I had it figured out, but certainly would have lost。 Ware is the winner of 6 NYTimes bestsellers for a reason with her psychological crime thrillers, and she continues to prove it with The It Girl。 Go pick it up, turn on all the lights, lock your doors, and dig in! 。。。more
Nicole Wuthering Vines ,
This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year as I’ve been a fan of Ware for a few years now and dark academia and school settings tend to be my favourite thriller trope!While I found this one a big dragged out and slightly too long for my liking, I did find it to be an addicting psychological thriller and whodunit! I relished in how atmospheric it was and I liked the alternating timelines and the abundance of suspects that were continually being uncovered。 I generally thought the book w This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year as I’ve been a fan of Ware for a few years now and dark academia and school settings tend to be my favourite thriller trope!While I found this one a big dragged out and slightly too long for my liking, I did find it to be an addicting psychological thriller and whodunit! I relished in how atmospheric it was and I liked the alternating timelines and the abundance of suspects that were continually being uncovered。 I generally thought the book was well written, intelligent and had great character development。 At times I was fully engaged and furiously turning the pages long into the night! I’m the end, while it wasn’t my favourite of hers, I still found it entertaining and ultimately enjoyed it! 。。。more
Suzanne Daniel,
I wish I had waited a little longer to read this book。 I've read a few books in the "dark academia" category lately。 This reminded me too much of those so it annoyed me a little bit。 But overall it was a good story。 I started to run out of steam toward the end。 I think it could have been a little shorter。 But a 3 star is good。 I like Ruth Ware and will continue to read anything she writes。 I wish I had waited a little longer to read this book。 I've read a few books in the "dark academia" category lately。 This reminded me too much of those so it annoyed me a little bit。 But overall it was a good story。 I started to run out of steam toward the end。 I think it could have been a little shorter。 But a 3 star is good。 I like Ruth Ware and will continue to read anything she writes。 。。。more
Lexi,
When Hannah Jones arrives at Oxford she has no idea that the journey she's about to begin is going to change her life。 At least, not in the way she'd imagined。 April is everything Hannah is not, but the two quickly become the best of friends。 April shows Hannah what it's like to live the lush life, and introduces her to a group of new friends。 But when Hannah finds April murdered in their dorm room, Hannah is left completely shaken。 It is what Hannah sees that sends a campus porter, John Nevill When Hannah Jones arrives at Oxford she has no idea that the journey she's about to begin is going to change her life。 At least, not in the way she'd imagined。 April is everything Hannah is not, but the two quickly become the best of friends。 April shows Hannah what it's like to live the lush life, and introduces her to a group of new friends。 But when Hannah finds April murdered in their dorm room, Hannah is left completely shaken。 It is what Hannah sees that sends a campus porter, John Neville, to prison for the crime。 Ten years later, Hannah's world is once again catapulted into a frenzy when the main convicted of April's murder dies in prison。 But murmurs of the man's possible innocence have the media circling Hannah, and now she can't shake the feeling that maybe she got it all wrong。 Could John have been innocent all this time? Who else could it have been? Hannah is determined to get to the bottom of it all, for April。 This is my second Ruth Ware novel, and I can't believe I haven't read more! While this book started off a bit slow for me, it certainly picks up in the best way。 Told in a "before and after" format, it's not only a murder mystery, it's a story about friendship and betrayal。 It's a creepy, cautionary tale about learning who you can and can't trust。 It's also about love and what lengths you will go to to save it。 Overall, this was a wonderful whirlwind story for anyone who appreciates a delicious murder mystery。 I can't wait to add it to my library! Thanks to Netgalley, Gallery Books, Gallery/Scout Press and Ruth Ware for my eARC in exchange for an honest review。 。。。more
Amy,
A psychological thriller that will keep you reading into the night! As college students return to Oxford for a year of fun and studies, they don’t realize a death is part of their year。 As years go by, they band together to find the the true killer, putting their lives and relationships in jeopardy。 Can you figure out “whodunnit”?
Becky,
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review。10 years ago, Hannah came back to her dorm to find her roommate, April, dead。 Absolutely traumatized, she left England for Scotland, and several years later reunited in person with Will, April's former boyfriend。 As the story begins, Hannah and Will are happily married, living in Scotland, and expecting a baby when they find out that the man convicted of murdering April has died in prison。 After a journalist (and friend of their other college fr I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review。10 years ago, Hannah came back to her dorm to find her roommate, April, dead。 Absolutely traumatized, she left England for Scotland, and several years later reunited in person with Will, April's former boyfriend。 As the story begins, Hannah and Will are happily married, living in Scotland, and expecting a baby when they find out that the man convicted of murdering April has died in prison。 After a journalist (and friend of their other college friend) casts doubt on the conviction, Hanna begins to dig into the mystery of who killed April, her best friend and total "It Girl。" The book is divided into "Before" chapters, with a dark academia vibe, and "After" chapters, where Hannah forces herself to reconsider evidence she thought was solid。This was another great book by Ruth Ware。 If you've enjoyed her previous books, you should also check this one out。 。。。more
Claia Casey,
3。8 rounding up to a 4
Nancy Mijangos,
I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review。 A group of college friends lose one of their own in a horrible murder。 Ten years after the brutal death, the case is reinvestigated with unexpected results。
Lizz Lewis,
Another great one from Ms。 Ware, but this one is probably tied for my favorite (along with The Death of Mrs。 Westaway)。 I thought I knew who did it and then things just kept twisting and turning and this was just a really good thriller-mystery。
Piepie ,
I liked this one but I don't know if it was her "best"。 Still a fairly enjoyable read, I didn't guess the murderer, and I really liked the academic setting and the "true crime podcast" storyline。 Thank you, Netgalley, for my arc。 I liked this one but I don't know if it was her "best"。 Still a fairly enjoyable read, I didn't guess the murderer, and I really liked the academic setting and the "true crime podcast" storyline。 Thank you, Netgalley, for my arc。 。。。more
karen,
in the vast churning sea of academic thrillers centered around the murder of a beautiful and magnetic young woman, what shocking twists does an author need to devise in order to stand out?in this case, the answer is "none," really。in the rankings of Ruth Ware Books I Have Read, The It Girl is sandwiched alongside One by One in the "perfectly fine" territory between the great: The Turn of the Key, and the terrible: In a Dark, Dark Wood。it's a very familiar setup: a close-knit group of college stu in the vast churning sea of academic thrillers centered around the murder of a beautiful and magnetic young woman, what shocking twists does an author need to devise in order to stand out?in this case, the answer is "none," really。in the rankings of Ruth Ware Books I Have Read, The It Girl is sandwiched alongside One by One in the "perfectly fine" territory between the great: The Turn of the Key, and the terrible: In a Dark, Dark Wood。it's a very familiar setup: a close-knit group of college students satellite around a beautiful, wealthy, selfish roman candle of a young woman, and after she gets murdered, everyone's secrets are revealed。 here, many of those secrets don't come out until a decade after april's murder, when her former bestie/roommate/narrator hannah is married to april's college-sweetheart will, when she is pregnant with his child, when john neville—the college porter hannah's testimony implicated in april's murder—dies in jail, when a reporter approaches hannah with information exonerating neville, when she becomes wracked with guilt over possibly ruining an innocent man's life, wracked with anger over april's unavenged death, and wracked with terror that a killer might still be on the loose。 it's a whole lot of wracking。the story alternates between adult hannah—pregnant, living in scotland, and working in a bookshop, and her student days at oxford, when she met the larger-than-life april and was engulfed into her clustering clique: april, will, emily, hugh, and ryan。 april is。。。the way all aprils are in books like this: There was something otherworldly about her—some indefinable quality Hannah could not put her finger on。 She felt almost as if she had seen her somewhere before。。。or watched her in a film。 She had that kind of beauty that hurt your eyes if you looked at her for too long, but made it hard to tear your gaze away。 It was, Hannah realized, as if a different kind of light were shining on her than on the rest of the room。
but after her death, she became a symbol—a promising life cut short, reduced to tragedy in the media:How dare they—the journalists, the public, the vultures who have picked over this case for years like they care, like they have a right to the truth just as much as Hannah does。 They've stripped April of her identity, of her uniqueness, of everything that made her real and compelling and fascinating—they've reduced her to a cardboard cutout of a girl and a series of Instagram pictures。 The perfect victim, in fact。
the ten-year-gap permits hannah enough emotional distance to revisit her past with different eyes, to consider that the creepy porter was maybe just creepy, and not necessarily a killer, and to perceive the cracks in april's shine; see the way her vanity, her carelessness with other people's feelings and her mischievous pranks may have driven someone to kill her—someone she considered a friend。 it does what thrillers do—a mad scramble of suspicion and doubt, red herrings, remembered details given new emphasis, etc etc, and it's a compelling, if conventional, page-turner。 i figured it out before the grand reveal, but i enjoyed the ride nonetheless。 honestly, the best parts for me were hannah's working-in-the-bookstore bits, which were very relatable, both the comfort in feeling "safest surrounded by books," and the joyful challenge of readers' advisory work:。。。an elderly lady, who comes in every Tuesday and buys a book, and then comes back the following Tuesday and tells Hannah how many marks out of ten she would award it。 She has never, ever given ten。 Hamnet got 8。75。 This week Razorblade Tears got 9。2。 The first Bridgerton novel got 7。7。 Lord of the Flies got a surprising 4。1。 Hannah finds it impossible to predict what will score high—some of her most confident recommendations bomb, but she lives in hope of finding something that will hit the magic jackpot。
i've read far too many campus thrillers in my life, and i will read many more before i die (knock wood), so this was more of a comfort-food read for me than a mind-blowing experience, but it's a fun summertime thriller to escape from the real world, and i'm taking my comforts where i can these days。 come to my blog! 。。。more
Katelyn | letmetakea_shelfie_,
THE IT GIRL is an academic thriller (my fav) featuring a group of friends that all went through the tragic death of their friend April。 The story unfold in dual timelines (done very well), but still moved very slowly for my taste。 I had a hard time getting into the story and the ending dragged on endlessly。 I also predicted the murderer which never happens so kinda disappointed 😞
Breanne,
I love a good college based thriller, one based inOxford gets bonus points! This was my favoriteRuth Ware book I've read to date。 I was keptengaged, couldn't stop reading, and loved thetwists。 I love a good college based thriller, one based inOxford gets bonus points! This was my favoriteRuth Ware book I've read to date。 I was keptengaged, couldn't stop reading, and loved thetwists。 。。。more
Carolyn,
Hannah Jones is excited to be commencing University at Oxford。 She worked hard at her government high school to get there and is looking forward to enjoying everything that Oxford has to offer。 She discovers she is to share a set of rooms with wealthy, beautiful, vivacious April Coutts-Cliveden, the girl who has ‘it’ all。 As well as a bedroom each they also have a joint living room/study which soon becomes a focal point for April’s private school friends to hang out。 Quickly accepted by April’s Hannah Jones is excited to be commencing University at Oxford。 She worked hard at her government high school to get there and is looking forward to enjoying everything that Oxford has to offer。 She discovers she is to share a set of rooms with wealthy, beautiful, vivacious April Coutts-Cliveden, the girl who has ‘it’ all。 As well as a bedroom each they also have a joint living room/study which soon becomes a focal point for April’s private school friends to hang out。 Quickly accepted by April’s group of Will, Hugh, Ryan and Emily, Hannah is soon doing everything together with them。 Hannah becomes April’s best friend even though they don’t seem to have much in common and April can be cruel, playing some horrible pranks on her friends。 However, before the end of the second term, April will be dead and Hannah will have fled Oxford。 Written entirely with Hannah’s voice the novel tells of the events leading up to April’s death as well as Hannah’s life ten years later。 She is married to Will and expecting a baby when she learns that the man who was convicted of April’s murder has died in prison。 Hannah was one of the key witnesses at his trial but since then he has continued to proclaim his innocence and Hannah wonders if she could have got his involvement wrong。I think this is type of novel written in a single voice could be hard to write but the author pulls it off fairly well。 However, a lot of the narrative is Hannah’s thoughts and introspection which does make it a tad repetitive, but the author does well to keep us guessing and interested in working out what really happened to April。 The descriptions Oxford with its old buildings and traditions are well done and help to build the atmosphere, especially during some creepy moments。 The alternating timelines provide moments of tension in the book with the suspense building gradually to culminate towards the end when Hannah finally works out who killed April。 A little different to Ruth Ware’s earlier books but a solid slow burner of a mystery with a clever little twist at the end。 3。5★With thanks to Simon & Schuster via Netgalley for a copy to read 。。。more
Ashley McB,
This story is told in two different timelines , before and after April was murdered。This was my first Ruth Ware book。 I’ve heard nothing but great things about this author so my expectations were high, unfortunately I didn’t enjoy this one as much as I hoped🥲。 With that being said, I’ll still give this author another shot。 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝:🔍I love a good murdery mystery, what kept me hanging on was needing to know who the killer was。 The ending definitely surprised me, my theories were squashed and This story is told in two different timelines , before and after April was murdered。This was my first Ruth Ware book。 I’ve heard nothing but great things about this author so my expectations were high, unfortunately I didn’t enjoy this one as much as I hoped🥲。 With that being said, I’ll still give this author another shot。 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝:🔍I love a good murdery mystery, what kept me hanging on was needing to know who the killer was。 The ending definitely surprised me, my theories were squashed and I’m glad I pushed through to see what happens。𝐖𝐚𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐚 𝐟𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐟:😫The book was over 400 pages and extremely slow。 There wasn’t anything “thrilling” throughout the plot until maybe the last 30 pages。 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫:✔️SLOWWWW burn thriller✔️Whodunnit mystery✔️ Academia setting✔️ Before and After timelines✔️Pretty little liars vibes 。。。more
Stacie ||readingbetweenthevines,
This was my first time reading Ruth Ware and it certainly won’t be my last。 The It Girl was a slow burn, but the short chapters made it a quick read (especially for a book that’s over 400 pages。)Told between a before and after timeline, when April is murdered testimony from her best friend Hannah puts John Neville in prison。 When Neville dies behind bars, a journalist presents Hannah with conflicting information that she may have been wrong。 There was a slew of potential suspects, and each of th This was my first time reading Ruth Ware and it certainly won’t be my last。 The It Girl was a slow burn, but the short chapters made it a quick read (especially for a book that’s over 400 pages。)Told between a before and after timeline, when April is murdered testimony from her best friend Hannah puts John Neville in prison。 When Neville dies behind bars, a journalist presents Hannah with conflicting information that she may have been wrong。 There was a slew of potential suspects, and each of them had a motive, and I will say, I didn’t figure out who the killer was until it was literally spelled out in front of me。 That being said, Hannah, girl, taking up your own murder investigation while six months pregnant, with high blood pressure, no less, you’re crazy。 I found the fact that she was married to Will a little strange at first, but the before and after timeline definitely made me feel better about it。 The It Girl certainly gives off a lot of In My Dreams I Hold A Knife vibes, so if you enjoyed that, then I highly recommend this one。Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for sending me an advanced digital copy via NetGalley in exchange for review。 。。。more
Jo Doolan,
Yesssss。 Back to the good old Ruth Ware novel。 Her last one left me a bit wanting but this one nailed it。
Alisa,
Compelling narrative that unfolded gradually and deliciously。 I found myself talking back to the narrator like you would yell at the characters in a horror movie。 Multiple characters are voiced with skill and care。
Kayleigh Marie,
All I have to say is… this book was an absolute mess。
Sarah Dodds,
Ladies and Gents, this is not a drill。 This book may be Ware’s best。The journey into legendary Oxford, a group of freshman friends, a murder…。the witness。Fast forward 10 years later。 Life has moved on…or so they think。 The witness is happily married to another in the friend group and expecting their first child when the convicted man dies, stirring up all the events from before。Told in a dual format of then and now, the reader witnesses a lot of the events leading up to the murder while also kno Ladies and Gents, this is not a drill。 This book may be Ware’s best。The journey into legendary Oxford, a group of freshman friends, a murder…。the witness。Fast forward 10 years later。 Life has moved on…or so they think。 The witness is happily married to another in the friend group and expecting their first child when the convicted man dies, stirring up all the events from before。Told in a dual format of then and now, the reader witnesses a lot of the events leading up to the murder while also knowing that the convicted man died in prison continued to protest his innocence。 Throw in a podcaster interested in getting down to the truth of the case and you’ve got yourself quite a mystery。The twists and turns are an amazing ride。 As usual, Ware develops her characters well and takes us through an amazing story。 Bravo! 。。。more
Lauren Guerriero,
Started off a little slow but then eventually picked up, did not expect the twist of the ending but ending throughly enjoyed the book and learning about Oxford。
Salma,
Feels dangerously familiar to In my dreams I hold knife
Shari Suarez,
Hannah Jones has a good life。 She's married to the love of her life and she's pregnant with their first child。 She has a job that she enjoys。 Then her past comes back to haunt her and it might end up taking everything she's worked so hard for。 Ten years prior, Hannah was a student at Oxford with a bright future until her roommate April is murdered in their dorm room。 Hannah gives evidence against a college porter but he has died in prison claiming he was innocent。 Hannah needs to find out if she Hannah Jones has a good life。 She's married to the love of her life and she's pregnant with their first child。 She has a job that she enjoys。 Then her past comes back to haunt her and it might end up taking everything she's worked so hard for。 Ten years prior, Hannah was a student at Oxford with a bright future until her roommate April is murdered in their dorm room。 Hannah gives evidence against a college porter but he has died in prison claiming he was innocent。 Hannah needs to find out if she put an innocent man in prison no matter what the cost to her and the life she's built in Edinburgh。This one was full of twists and turns。 Just when you think you have a handle on who did it, the story twists again and you're left wondering。 If you like dark academia in particular The Maidens by Alex Michaelides, you will enjoy this one。 。。。more
Becky H,
3。5 rounded up
Samantha,
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review。 I’ve been struggling with LOVING thrillers lately, and I’m not sure why。 Maybe it’s because I’ve read THREE thrillers this year with similar premises: dual-timeline stories focusing on both the present and the characters’ college years, where a friend was murdered and something has recently been uncovered to shed light or doubt on how the case was handled。 I loved one (In My Dreams I Hold a Knife), k Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review。 I’ve been struggling with LOVING thrillers lately, and I’m not sure why。 Maybe it’s because I’ve read THREE thrillers this year with similar premises: dual-timeline stories focusing on both the present and the characters’ college years, where a friend was murdered and something has recently been uncovered to shed light or doubt on how the case was handled。 I loved one (In My Dreams I Hold a Knife), kinda hated one (The Girls Are All So Nice Here) and felt just fine about this one。 I think I need to stay away from this premise for a bit。 The cast of characters was my favorite part of this one - this is my third Ruth Ware, and she definitely knows how to develop characters。 I was suspicious of just about everyone at some point。 There are red herrings, but they are red herrings that actually make sense and are explained, rather just being there to manipulate the reader with no explanation。 This is a solid thriller, and I look forward to reading more Ruth Ware in the future。 。。。more
Justin Newman,
Well, it’s Ruth Ware, so it is good。 Is it as good as her other output? Not quite。 Is it breaking any new ground? Not really。 Is it worth a read? Sure。 I think this should be read as fall gives way to winter, allowing the autumn setting to feel more real。 I brought this one to the beach and it was not the proper locale to finish reading this one。 It felt out of sorts。 The characters are well-designed and memorable。 The writing is great as usual。 Ultimately, it’s just not breathtaking。 The reveal Well, it’s Ruth Ware, so it is good。 Is it as good as her other output? Not quite。 Is it breaking any new ground? Not really。 Is it worth a read? Sure。 I think this should be read as fall gives way to winter, allowing the autumn setting to feel more real。 I brought this one to the beach and it was not the proper locale to finish reading this one。 It felt out of sorts。 The characters are well-designed and memorable。 The writing is great as usual。 Ultimately, it’s just not breathtaking。 The reveals are predictable and the almost-twists feel less revelatory than the novel would have them seem。 Recommend, but only for fans of Ware。 Good, not great。 。。。more
Matt,
if you want a more predictable and mediocre version of In My Dreams I Hold A Knife, read this!