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Wendy, do you like any of these characters? I thought I did like one for awhile, but now that I am almost finished - I have changed my mind.

You know, I don't think you're even supposed to like anyone. I'm not quite halfway through yet and the characters are fascinating, but they're definitely not ones I'd want as friends. They're so compelling, though!

How are you liking this Wendy? I'm reading this, too. :)

Everyone in it is just terrible--I love it! Hee.

And yay--impromptu readalong! How far along are you? I'm about 60% in. As a character study, this is the most interesting book I've read in ages.

Wendy Darling wrote: "Everyone in it is just terrible--I love it! Hee.

And yay--impromptu readalong! How far along are you? I'm about 60% in. As a character study, this is the most interesting book I've read in ages."

Lol! I'm only at 70-something pages and enjoying it so far.

Hurry up and finish, please! It turned out even better than I expected. :D

I can't wait to read this. I have a couple ahead of it and then I plan on devouring it. (I just wish I was a much faster reader or it would be done by now.)

It's a really fast read, Heather--I hope you enjoy it just as much as I did. Hurry up with those other two books!

I'm working on it! Haha. I'm hoping to get to it this week. I've got two started and a library book that is only a two week loan (want to get it finished so it can go back in circulation). I'm hoping Wednesday I'll get to it.
I've heard really good things about it and really looking forward to it.

Well, let me know what you think of it! I'm seeing some "this was too depressing" reviews, so it's interesting to see different reactions to this book.

Ooh! Sounds right up my alley. I'm in the mood to be creeped out.

I wouldn't call it creepy, exactly, but it is pretty riveting. Hope you like it, Tandie!

I was super creeped by Before I Fall Asleep. Love psychological thrillers & characters with questionable ethics.

Oh, okay! This really is right up your alley, then. If I miss your review, please tag me when you're done!

I definitely will. I've been working on improving my reviewing anyway. I'm also trying to keep out of my mind the whole comparison to Gillian Flynn. Cause that's all I keep hearing about.

Meh. I read Gillian Flynn's first book, and while I haven't read Gone Girl, I've read quite a few reviews and seen the film...I get where the comparison is coming from, but for me, this author's writing is much more nuanced and interesting. Aside from the similarities in twisty mysteries and unreliable narrators, they both feature unlikeable characters--but Flynn's characters often seem like they're just assholes, and sometimes very much made-up characters who don't feel real and are almost caricatures because they're so extreme. Hawkins' characters feel much more human to me--the things that make them off-putting are the things we dislike in ourselves as well. You sympathize with and equally dislike almost everyone in nearly equal measure.

But different strokes and all that. A lot of people will love Flynn and probably find this really boring.

Gone Girl was fucked up. Not gonna lie. I'm reading Dark Places now, but I read Sharp Objects and it's definitely her best so far. Her books are going to get old quick. Between the female characters basically being copies of each other and the story lines are ridiculously predictable. Which is a shame, cause she has talent.

I just finished one of the books and will probably do the one that has to go back soon tomorrow and read this on Monday. Cause now, I really want to read it. Lol.

I'm glad I can add fuel to those excitable flames. :D

Now I need to read this book

Waiting for this to come in for me at the library!

Maria--YOU DO.

Jen, I'm glad you're going to be reading it soon! So, so good.

I can't message you Wendy but I just wanted to let you know i enjoy reading your reviews!

That's so nice of you, Katie--thank you! Always gratifying to hear. :)

My husband loved this book :)

You married a man with good taste, Renee. ;)

Thanks, Wendy! I was wondering if YA readers could read this book as well, and your review cleared that right up. I was a big fan of Dangerous Girls (even though I found it very disturbing), so I'll probably really enjoy The Girl on the Train.

Ah, you're welcome, Drew! I try to remember to do that when I can.

This is a very readable adult book, though I will say that much of it is in the narrators' heads and it has a more somber mood, so it may feel slower paced for some readers, even though there are pretty dramatic things that happen. I really enjoyed it though--I think if you like character-driven stories, you'll appreciate this. Good luck!

I'm starting it shortly. Doesn't matter that it's almost 1:30am.
I blame you.

I really enjoyed this, too, Wendy, and I'm so happy (and surprised, I must admit) that it lived up to the hype. The ONLY thing I didn't like was the villain's "And now allow me to explain everything" monologue at the end.

I agree with you 100% re: the villain monologue--I don't mind a little bit of that, but it went on too long. She'd done such a great job of placing hints throughout the story that to have that felt pretty clunky and out of place.

I was glad to see your four stars! Do you think you'll write a review?

I'm not sure if I'll write a review.

I was actually chatting with a friend today about this book and the villain monologue, in general, and we were wondering whether it's even possible for an author to avoid it, in most cases. I suspect that most of them would prefer not to have to beat us over the head with it, but if they don't, there's a risk that many readers would finish a book and think, "Huh? Where did THAT come from?" and feel frustrated.

And you're absolutely right that it felt out of place in this book.

Probably keeps people from reading the last page of a book first...if the author doesn't show their hand all at once.

My mom has a bad habit of reading the last chapter first. She says, "Katie, I am too old to waste my time reading books with poor endings!"

She says she can enjoy a book even more; if she knows that it has a fabulous ending. "Katie, the middle is where it is at!"

I really respect authors who can make us care about completely unlikeable characters.

Is there a lot of bad language in this book?

Wendy!
I finished it last night. It wasn't bad (I prefer Gone Girl, though), for me it didn't start picking up until around 260 pages. I posted some what of a review.

I guessed what had happened pretty early on which was disappointing but I still enjoyed the story. I don't know if I'm going to rush to read anything she publishes again. I'm hoping she finds her own unique voice. It'll be interesting to see what she does next and how long it'll take Hollywood to put this into development.

Sounds like I should pick this up, then. Gotcha!

Great review! You are so right abot the characters - for me, only Cathy is likable, but surely not meant to be....right also about the red herrings.

Loved this book! It provoked so many feelings towards the various characters - from cringing to anger and disgust at one point!

Wendy how did you figure out the culprit? What red herrings? Cause' this book just kept me guessing :)

Wendy how did you figure out the culprit? What red herrings? Cause' this book just kept me guessing :)

I know I figured out what happened the moment adultery was talked about. The two poems in the beginning also gave information away.

The definition of red herring: a clue that is meant to be misleading.

Cathy, the flat mate, was decent. Normal. Predictable.

These characters were deeply flawed, but not without some good in them. Rachel was quite aware of her flaws, just really struggling to work past them. That's how addiction is. Anyone who has spent time around an addict, or has been an addict themselves would see how well this author portrayed the two sides of people with alcoholism and how hard it is to get healthy again. These characters were not wholly likable, but they were very real.

I love this review. This book messed me up for a couple days.

Excellent review! I don't know what to do with my life now that I've finished it. I'm afraid my next book won't measure up. I'm going to check out your book recs. I need another fix!

Wendy, I really enjoyed your review. It helped me understand why I liked this book. I read it for my bookclub, wish i was able to find the words to express my feelings about it, like you have. Thanks :)

I really liked Wendy's review. I really liked this book and would recommend it but having said that, I don't think my review gave it justice...Wendy's review was much better !!

I love your comments...especially the first sentence LOL

Thank you, Wendy. I've found the negative reviews on this book rage-inducing. They seem to all employ the literary snobbishness of, "People who like this are morons who need to read real books" (showing ignorance of genre) while sometimes missing-the-point hilariously: "I hate these characters!" "I guessed whodunit, the rest of the book isn't worth considering!" Ugh.