Review for Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins!
Quick View Review
Overall Rating: **** (4.2/5)
Amazon Rating: **** (4/5)
One Sentence Review: If you enjoy suspenseful mystery novels with dark, flawed characters and a beautiful plot twist, then read this book! (also if you plan to see the movie, read it first!)
Full Review
EVERY DAY THE SAME
Rachel takes the same commuter train every morning and night. Every day she rattles down the track, flashes past a stretch of cozy suburban homes, and stops at the signal that allows her to daily watch the same couple breakfasting on their deck. She’s even started to feel like she knows them. Jess and Jason, she calls them. Their life—as she sees it—is perfect. Not unlike the life she recently lost.
UNTIL TODAY
And then she sees something shocking. It’s only a minute until the train moves on, but it’s enough. Now everything’s changed. Unable to keep it to herself, Rachel goes to the police. But is she really as unreliable as they say? Soon she is deeply entangled not only in the investigation but in the lives of everyone involved. Has she done more harm than good? (Summary by Amazon).
I heard about the book before the movie, but I only chose to read the book once I heard there was going to be a movie. (My pet peeve is when people say ‘well I saw the movie’). I got the book to read when I saw it randomly in a store.. I finished it in a day and a half (even with school!). Immediately I was hooked and couldn’t put it down. The mystery is gripping and there’s the biggest plot twist at the end. Like, I knew there was a plot twist, but I thought I guessed the plot twist, so when the plot twist actually happened it was like a double plot twist. Confusing? Yeah, so is the book. But in a good way. It’s like each chapter is a clue, and you feel so close at times, and then something happens and suddenly you’re lost again. The writing is very descriptive and makes these characters real. Each perspective actually feels like different people (even though they are pretty similar in some ways). The characters are generally complex and have a good depth to them, but the mystery part makes it harder to get a clear cut picture of anyone. There are some very mature topics covered in this novel, so if addiction to alcohol, discussion of abortion, or domestic abuse bother you, then maybe you should reconsider reading this book. Otherwise, this novel was brilliantly written, and if you get the chance, definitely read it (if you start, you won’t be able to put it down).
Make sure to come back next Wednesday for a new review!
Happy reading!
Xoxo,
Zoe
