This book reminded me a lot of Samantha Bailey's "Woman on the Edge" -- new mom with post-partum depression who thinks she's being stalked. There's an interesting twist here, with a mom whose baby died shortly after birth seeming to be the villain. It's a bold choice, and despite the multiple points of view, I'm not sure it worked. The tension and pacing is great, but the ending is a little unbelievable.

Great book!  Couldn’t wait to read it, and it didn’t disappoint!  Grabbed my attention within the first two chapters, and then I didn’t want to put it down.  Excellent character development - I think that every reader will find a character to whom they relate.  I enjoy books where there is character development, and then also a surprise, and this book provided both!  Looking forward to reading more from this author!

This contemporary psychological drama was quite enjoyable. The author easily depicted the London location, fashion magazine occupation and new parent vibes to further the storyline about trust, friendship, love, parenthood, grief, and how all those things can be twisted inside your head. The switching back and forth by chapter between the characters and not laying everything out right away added to the feeling of confusion and uncertainty the characters were exhibiting. This is a page turner that kept me up at night reading and kept me from doing what I should gave been doing instead.  Thanks to #netgalley for the opportunity to read #thenewgirl ahead of publication.

I read this book awhile ago and I remember not liking it very much. According to my Goodreads, I even shelved the novel because it wasn't my cup of tea.

I thought that this was a refreshing read. With all of the (vaguely or seriously) psychological mysteries focused on women coming out, I often find that the plot and characters can get repetitive. This, however, was an interesting exploration of female friendship, motherhood, and life for working mothers. And I thought the mystery aspect was good as well!

The author does a great job of taking a fresh off maternity leave mother and turning her into a frenzied paranoid shell of who she used to be.

Margot has worked hard to get to where she is. Going on maternity leave was supposed to be a walk in the park. Sure she would have some catching up to do, but everything will be as it was in no time. What ensues is not what Margot had planned for. Not even what she anticipated. 

When a threat after threat keeps appearing Margot can't help but think she knows who's behind everything. While Margot's life seems to be spiraling out of control Maggie's seems to be taking off. 

An intriguing and delicious read.

I enjoyed this thriller very much.  An ordinary life turned into one of paranoia and suspense new things usual mean excitement, not fear.

Harriet Walker's books are hard to put down and this is no exception. I didn't enjoy certain plot points but overall I found the book engaging and exciting.

Loved the premise and loved the book even more! I could not put it down. Such an interesting story line made better by fantastic writing! Excited to see what else this author has in store in the future.

This tale is every mothers night mare.  You need a helper, you get the "perfect" helper.  But is she really ?
Not recommended for new parents looking for childcare  .... but a thriller worth reading.

This is the second book I have read recently that has involved the concept of a maternity cover -- a woman in an influential job (in this book, Margot is a fashion editor at a popular magazine) goes on maternity leave and chooses the woman (in this book, Maggie) who will be her temporary replacement.  Both books (the other is "Three Perfect Liars") involve the temporary hire, who is younger, prettier, and full of new ideas, quickly deciding she wants to stay on with the company; the woman on maternity leave feeling insecure and threatened by her replacement, especially as the replacement does well, proves popular, and is more sociable/outgoing; the replacement feeling somewhat in awe of the woman she has replaced, as well as some imposter syndrome; a third woman who is a major character (in this book, Winnie, Margot's former best friend); and a secret involving two of the women that has already altered their lives and would be devastating if revealed.  The concept sounds promising, but I found both books underwhelming.

"The New Girl" starts off with Winnie losing her baby at birth, with Margot in the late stages of pregnancy.  This shatters their friendship, as Margot's pregnancy is a constant reminder of what Winnie has lost.  The author does a good job of portraying the devastation for both Winnie and her husband, Charles, of losing their baby -- the physical and mental anguish, the jealousy of other couples who have children, the petty acts that grief can cause, etc.  She also does a good job of portraying the anxieties and insecurities of Margot and Maggie regarding the job situation.  Margot's anxiety and insecurity is made worse by an online troll who refers to the secret between Margot and Winnie.

However, the book starts slow and takes quite a while to really pick up and be interesting.  It is not until about halfway through the book that the author reveals the backstory between Winnie and Margot that encompasses the secret that has shaped their lives and their friendships, and which is possibly at risk of being revealed.  It would have been better for that information to be revealed earlier in the book.  

There are some pretty good surprises in the book; however, the biggest surprise was what did not happen -- the plot seemed to be leading towards a particular event/revelation that does not happen (a choice by the author that can be viewed both positively and negatively).  Overall, "The New Girl" is a decent read, but it could have been better.

I received a copy of the e-book via NetGalley.

Oh I loved this one.  Margot and Maggie.  Maggie and Margot.  Who do you root for?  Who is the villain?  And who is Helen?  I thought this was a fantastic read and absolutely could not put it down.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

What an amazing book to keep you on the edge of your sit. Intrigue, High Fashion, layered with suspense, this is a must read. This gave me All the thriller vibes and I could not put this gem down!!! This is a must read! Your future self will thank you for it!!

I don't think labeling this book as a thriller is fair; it's more Women's Fiction with some thrilling components. I also wouldn't compare it to anything by Alfred Hitchcock, but that's just me. It was mediocre, but quickly paced. It was easily predictable but the middle was really strong. 

I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

Trigger warning: This book talks about child loss. It also has graphic scenes of sexual abuse.

I feel like all the publicity surrounding this book didn't do it a favour.
It was presented as new hot tense thriller when in reality we got mediocre women's fiction with few thriller/mystery elements.

The story is written in three parts, following three different perspectives: Margot's, Maggie's and Winnie's.

In the first part nothing really happened, except that we met everyone in the story. It was pretty boring.

The second part was my favourite and the one most interesting. That part is the one that stayed with me for weeks after I finished the book.

The last part was one where everything happened and it was okay, even though I wasn't the fan of the way the story developed, and I predicted the bad guy all along.

The writing style was good, it was easy to follow and enjoyable.

Overall, this was The New Girl was a good novel, but I expected more.
Would I still recommend it? Definitely.

The New Girl is whiplash-paced, and a harrowing look into the profound sense of insecurity that prowls deep in the psyches of women everywhere.

First, the pace is not whiplash. It wasn't until 55% in that the pace actually picked up and so did the writing... a bit.

Second, "women everywhere"? please do not speak for women everywhere and what our insecurities are.

I wanted to read something with a bit of punch and I was drawn to New Girl but it was very underwhelming. I did not believe Margot and her friend Win could be friends since childhood and remain so surface level and bitter towards each other... I know there are surface level but.... . Also, while the book did focus on the New Girl that took over Margot's position it was very surface level and eye-rolling.

Honestly, I would recommend you use your time reading something else.

This was a great book from start to finish. The writing drew me in immediately and each of the characters was unique and interesting. I can’t rave enough about a book that features three female leads that are varied enough that I immediately know who’s POV it is without even referencing the heading!! The mysteries themselves were just a bit dull which is why I only gave it four stars - the mysterious “Helen” from the past storyline was obvious what had happened, led down a road to wonder what was currently happening but then fizzled out with no conclusion. There wasn’t quite enough tension with the Maggie/Winnie/Lila arc to create a real “coming to a head” moment, which, without spoilers, made what I think was supposed to be a big twist just feel a little flat. 

Overall a great read though! Fun and quick.

The New Girl is so. damn. good and I wish more readers were aware of it! It’s entertaining, it’s absolutely thrilling ( in the very best OMG! thriller way), and it's well written to boot. The only downside, imo, is the very generic cover. The New Girl is definitely much better inside than it looks from the outside! Very highly recommended.

A fast-paced smart novel that explores the insecurities of motherhood, career women, the complexity of friendships and more. I flew through this and could hardly put it down!

I really enjoyed this book. The glimpses into the fashion world were fun and inviting, the characters had depth and complexity, and the story flowed well, keeping the reader engaged and wanting to know more. Margot's character reminds us that no matter how perfect someone's life may look, there are still fears and insecurities, problems, and hopes. Yes, it was a thriller, but it was also a bit of a life lesson...a reminder that relationships/friendships are complicated; to cherish what you have and not waste time wishing for someone else's life. Would definitely recommend.