Margot is the girl that everyone wants to be. She is the fashion editor at a major magazine headquartered in London. She has the perfect, good looking, supportive husband, the long-term friend, and is happily awaiting her first child. Her life is social-media, perfect. But is it, really? When Margot has to find a substitute employee to fill in for her while she is away on maternity leave, tiny cracks begin to appear in the perfect shell of Margot's life. Her best friend, Winnie, who should be celebrating the birth of her own first child is suddenly submerged in grief when her perfect, tiny son dies immediately after delivery. Margot tries to reach out to Winnie. Really, she does. But Winnie won't return her calls, she only sends a photo of her dead baby. Is there a hidden message in this macabre missive or is it just the plea of a grieving mother? What is the real story? Harriet Walker will keep readers engaged and questioning right up to the end of The New Girl.

I liked this one, especially in the beginning, although found it a bit overly dramatic and draggy by the end and things happy-ended way more than I anticipated/expected/enjoyed... I really liked the way Walker set up the tension between the two women. It was a lifestyle battle (moms vs. singletons) that hit all the insecurity buttons on both sides in a way that felt authentic and resonated with me as someone who came to motherhood at 40 so actually lived both lives. But the drama felt like it got unnecessarily repetitive and started feeling forced as the author struggled to keep ramping things up page after page. I think if the story had stayed focused on the woman v. woman drama, the book would have been a more enjoyable read for me, but the incorporation of the cyber-stalker bit (and its subsequent unveiling) took things way over the edge for me. It felt like the book wanted to be "Hitchcockian" as the blurb suggested, and the forced throw-you-for-a-loop bits were where the book lost its authentic feel and started getting a little over-the-top for me. Plus it all ended rather tidily, which felt a bit unlikely given the heavy build up to the revelations. It was still an enjoyable read but I felt like it would have had a more powerful impact if the focus had not strayed into thriller territory and instead focused more solidly on the Margot/Maggie conflict.

Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book.

I definitely enjoyed The New Girl although I did think the middle of the book dragged a bit & could’ve been shorter. I thought I had figured out the ending but I was so far off. I liked the descriptive sense of foreboding that Margot experiences as she struggles with her anxieties along with being a new mother. I would definitely check out another book by this author.

The New Girl Book Review
In The New Girl, Haute editor Margot has the perfect life: a stellar career, an exciting social calendar, and a baby on the way. When it’s time for Margot to search for a maternity leave cover, she remembers Maggie, a freelance writer she met on a work trip. Maggie is talented but non-threatening, and Margot believes she will be a perfect temporary replacement.

However, as Maggie thrives in Margot’s old job and wins the boss’s favor, Margot is left to wonder how safe her position at Haute is. And after falling out with her longest friend while simultaneously fending off an aggressive internet troll , Margot begins the a rapid descent into paranoia.

Overall I enjoyed reading this story, but I wouldn’t say it’s one of my favorites. I really loved Maggie’s point of view. It was fun seeing her excel at her job, and I found myself rooting for her. Margot’s paranoia was understandable, but after a while even I started to tire of her. I enjoyed the twist ending, it was unexpected and interesting. The ending was satisfying, and I’m glad that at the end we get to see all of the main characters supporting eachother (instead of the typical narrative that pits women against women).

I think this would be a great, quick summer read for fans of The Devil Wears Prada, or maybe Liv Constantine’s books. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for lending me a copy in exchange for my review!

I really enjoyed this book and couldn’t put it down. And the ending was totally unexpected. I highly recommend!

Meet Margot Jones, a fashion editor at glossy magazine Haute. During her pregnancy, Margot is tasked to find her "maternity cover," while she's on leave. Margot remembers Maggie, a freelance journalist she met on a trip once and thinks she's perfect for the job.

Maggie knows she doesn't measure up to Margot's glamorous life but is excited at the prospect of stepping in her shoes, even if it's temporary. But after Margot's baby arrives and she is ceremoniously dumped by her oldest friend, Margot becomes the anxious sixteen year old she desperately tried to outgrow.

Told primarily from the alternating perspectives of Margot and Maggie, The New Girl is a riveting story of the typical rivalry between women. A great summer read!

I would absolutely give this 4.5 stars (1/2 star off only because the "secret" was not as compelling as the manner in which it was written - I was expecting a lot more from Winnie and Margot's past). I love Walker's prose, her wit and pacing. I didn't quite get the reason why 2 of the 3 main characters had the same name (Margot/Maggie) other than one was temporarily taking the place of the other at work but there wasn't much beyond that and the names got confusing sometimes.

Otherwise this was a great read. More depth to characters than is typically given to "women's thrillers" or whatever the genre is. Each of the women were multi-dimensional and complex. I loved the setting at the magazine and also the backstory of the past. Very sharply-drawn and interesting. Walker gives us just enough to be relatable while also sharing a glimpse into the world of fashion that she knows so well.

Thanks to Netgalley for the arc to review.

2.5 stars. I enjoyed reading this, but the ending kind of fizzled out for me. The relationships and tension between Margot/Maggie and Margot/Winnie kept my interest all along, but I kept expecting some big reveal about the situation with Helen, and it never came. So even though there was some drama at the end, it still felt anticlimactic. I feel like I missed something, but I went back to look after I finished I couldn't really figure out why Margot had such a big secret about the Helen situation. Like, NO idea. Maybe I'm missing something that was obvious to other readers, but...I didn't get it.

If you read this book I would recommend going into it with a an expectation that you're reading women's fiction about complicated relationships between women, because I thought this story did that part well, but it didn't really deliver as the thriller I had expected. I mostly requested this because I was sucked in by the description "Hitchcockian"in the blurb, and...it wasn't that.

“The New Girl” heavily focuses on the theme of female friendships/jealousy. Cam you really have one without the other.

Told from three perspectives, that of Margot, Maggie, and Winnie, “The New Girl “gives the reader the story of a high-powered fashion editor (Margot) who goes out on maternity leave and chooses Maggie to replace her in the interim. Margot is understandably fearful of how Maggie‘s presence will be received by her fashion magazine. Maggie, the new girl, is understandably fearful of the same.

Both Margo and Maggie grow to practically hate each other in this book, as can happen when the stakes are high in the competition is robust. How can Margot sit back and enjoy her maternity leave when I seemingly newer younger version of her is now sitting at her desk and becoming friends with her staff.

Same for Margo and Winnie. How can they maintain a friendship when one woman has what the other woman so unexpectedly, undeservedly lost.

The author sets up the present story by weaving in chapters featuring young Margot and Winnie. Again, jealousy occupies a major chunk of this female friendship, As does the imposition of a “new girl”.

I really liked the writing style. There was enough description to keep me involved, but not too much to kickstart my skim mode. I loved the story. It was realistic and timely.

This just didn’t work for me unfortunately.
So much over explaining of feelings and insecurities that I think the real potential for a good story got lost in the mix. It actually made me sad, thinking of those of us women IRL who actually put ourselves through this kind of mental torture.
Maybe if it had only been one of the characters afflicted with this problem it wouldn’t have been so bad...but 3 was overkill for me.
Ended up skimming through the end to see how it all played out.
Hoping for better luck next time with this author!

ARC provided by NetGalley

Glamorous Margot Jones is the fashion editor at glossy magazine Haute. Pregnant with her first child, Margot’s carefully curated life is the object of other women’s envy—who wouldn’t want her successful career, loving husband, beautiful house, and stylish wardrobe?

Maggie, a freelance journalist, certainly knows she doesn’t measure up. But when she gets the temp job covering Margot’s maternity leave, Maggie seizes the chance to live a flashier life—even if it’s only for a few months.

But the simultaneous arrival of Margot’s baby and a brutal end to her oldest friendship sends Margot into a spiral of insecurity and suspicion; normal preoccupations of new motherhood turn into dark and frightening paranoia. Who is the vicious online troll mocking Margot’s facade of perfection and threatening to expose a dark secret she’s spent years concealing? Are Maggie’s newfound ambitions and plucky enthusiasm as innocent as they seem? And what happens when Margot is ready to return to her old life—especially if Maggie doesn’t want to leave?

My Thoughts: The themes in The New Girl take us on several different journeys. We first see, from Margot’s point of view, how Maggie, “the new girl” who is filling her position as fashion editor while she is on maternity leave, seems to be taking over her life completely. How does Maggie insert herself into Margot’s personal as well as her professional life, including taking over Margot’s past connections?

Winnie’s narrative takes us back to the past, to the beginning of her friendship with Margot, interrupted by another “new girl” when Helen appears and succeeds in sidelining Margot in the friendship. Then we watch as Winnie begins to view herself as a “new girl” when her relationship with Helen changes her into a different person. But then it takes a dangerous turn.

What secrets are holding Winnie and Margot together? How does Maggie’s intrusion change everything for them all? Is Margot paranoid about what is happening, or is something completely different afoot?

Just when I thought I had it all figured out, the conclusion brought stunning and unexpected revelations. An unputdownable book that earned 4.5 stars.

My e-ARC came from the publisher via NetGalley.

With a pitch that’s a cross between The Devil Wears Prada & Single White Female, this book was added to my “to be read” stack immediately!

Margot Jones is prepping for her first child, ready to join her best friend Winnie on their maternity leave. She’s found Maggie, a suitable temporary employee to take her place as the fashion editor at Haute magazine. And then tragedy strikes Margot’s best friend, and the soon-to-be mother finds herself in a state of anxiety.

That anxiety is only intensified when she sees Maggie becoming the popular finale at the office; fitting into Margot’s role at work (and personal life) with an uncomfortable ease.

Things begin to come to a head when someone from the past begins to taunt Margot. Is she being paranoid, or is someone really out to get her? And is it Maggie, Winnie, or someone else entirely?

This was a twisty thriller, fraught with strained relationships and mistrust. Climbing the ladder at a glossy magazine, hormones that come with the birth of a newborn, and vindictive thoughts surround Maggie, Margot, and Winnie. Overall, this thriller was a quick read and I was excited to get through it in one evening! It sort of reminded me of a twisted version of the old adage “ Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.”

Margot should be happy. She is expecting her first child and has chosen her temporary replacement at work, Maggie. Of course, she didn't want just anyone to fill her shoes as the editor of Haute magazine. Maggie is a friend, so she shouldn't worry that she will do a better job, or should she? Then there is Winnie, Margot's best friend, who is also pregnant but tragically loses her baby. Besties should stick together in both good and bad times, right, so why won't Winnie return Margot's calls.
These three women give new meaning to insecure, paranoid, and always expecting the other shoe to drop. It's a deep dive into the inner workings of Margot, Maggie, and Winnie's minds with quite a few surprising revelations along the way. The opening made me think this would be more of a thriller, but I didn't find that to be true. It's more of a story about how social media influences perception, and how what we think we know from one photo, doesn't mean we understand that person's real life. The New Girl gave me some intriguing insights into the world of high fashion, which I especially enjoyed due to my current sweatpants and pajamas stay at home life. Though I felt this book got off to a slow start, when it picked up, it took off. 3.5 stars.

It is THE fashion magazine - Haute and Margot is lucky enough to be the fashion editor. She has a beautiful home, a handsome husband and all the top fashions in her wardrobe. She attends all the best fashion shows and loves her job. Margot is getting ready to have her first child and so a temporary replacement needs to be found. Margot had met Maggie at a couple of shows where Maggie was a journalist., so Margot thinks she would be able to fill in for her while she is on maternity leave. Maggie gets hired and soon becomes popular and loves the clothes and the attention and wonders how she could possibly give up this lifestyle when Margot is due to return. Meanwhile Margot is totally into motherhood with her new daughter, but she has a secret, a big one, that only she and her former best friend Winnie know. Then Margot starts getting threatening texts and fears that her secret will be revealed. She can also see how liked Maggie is becoming and Margot wonders if she will be able to return to her job as fashion editor.
This book is a real page turner and I never guessed the ending. I thank the publisher for my ARC through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Margot Jones is the Fashion Director of the Haute Magazine. She had spent 10 years working at the magazine. She had traveled to the fashion hotspots like New York, Paris, and Milan. There were all kinds of perks that went with the job, I.e., luncheons, invitations from very fluential people, a private driver for her travel, and a private jet. She really enjoyed her job very much. She always remained cool and calm in most situations. Her staff knew what was expected from her and they delivered every month. She is now helping to decide on her replacement, while she is on maternity leave. She’s a little anxious and over-protective of her position with the magazine. Would they forget her? Would Maggie Beecher be the replacement that stole her job? Would her boss, Emily Moffat like Maggie’s work style and work ethic better than hers? Her longtime college friend, Winnie, is having a baby at the same time as she is, and she’s excited about them both having babies that would grow up together as friends. Something has happened with Winnie’s birth. She shuts everyone out of her life, and more importantly, she shut out Margot. Why would Winnie do that to her best friend, especially since they both had kept such a huge secret for many many years. What is that secret? Will the secret come to light again? What have they been hiding? Why is Margot getting messages now? Why is this invisible individual sending her these messages, attacking her work ethic, her appearance, and complimenting Maggie on all the things she has accomplished, while working as Margot’s replacement? Who is doing this and why? Will Winnie ever reconcile with her best friend, Margot? The plot was very intriguing and mysterious all the way through the book. The character development was great and the descriptions of the individuals kept the reader’s attention. The author’s writing style was clean, clear, and very descriptive as well. The ending was definitely not what was expected. I enjoyed this book very much. There is definitely a lesson that is shared in this book.

I have to admit I was weepy at the end of this lovely novel! I love books about fashion even though I'm not terribly fashionable myself. Margot is pregnant and about to deliver so she and Haute Magazine's editor hire new girl, Maggie as her replacement. But not only does Maggie fill Margot's shoes, but she flaunts her new style and eventually gets the magazine's cover, much to Margot's chagrin. In the meantime, Margot's best friend Winnie has just lost her own baby and is cocooned in her own grief, unable to even speak to Margot. And so it begins....Alternating between Maggie and Margot in the present, and then Winnie and Margot's past, we see that according to Margot, "In female friendships, the currency of love doesn't always come with an equal exchange rate." Walker speaks to so many themes: jealousy, betrayal, isolation, grief, and redemption. She also addresses the current social media hype as, "this is how friendships form now: in scrolling rather than handshakes." It may very well remind you to examine your relationships with those closest to you and recognize that we all have different needs but always need each other's support!

In The New Girl, Margot is someone to be envied. The Fashion Editor of Haute Magazine, she is used to front row runway seats, and exclusive invitations to parties and shows. When it comes time to have her first baby, Margot is tasked with finding her replacement. Someone who is good, but not good enough to keep her from returning from her maternity leave. She has found just the person in her consultant acquaintance, Margo.

In addition to being a new mom, Margot slowly starts to lose her support network. First, her replacement seems to be killing it in her old role, and now her best friend Winnie no longer wants to speak to her. To add to it all, she seems to have a stalker, who finds joy in reminding Margot that her replacement at work is more popular and posed to make a change from being Margot's temporarily replacement to a permanent replacement. Is the stalker her former best friend? Who can she trust?

I really enjoyed The New Girl as it combined two of my favorites: The Devil Wears Prada and a good thriller. I had a hard time putting it down--especially the final chapter. The book was more than the fashion world, however. The author discusses deeper themes, such as the struggle to be a new parent (both for moms and dads). There is also the theme of friendship running through the story, with both new and old friendships and how these friendships can strain or mature over time. Overall it was a great read.

This was a really fun read! The "Devil Wears Prada meets Single White Female" description was spot on and had me hooked. The writing was clear, the characters were interesting and the fashion setting was realistic and well-developed. A great summer read and I look forward to more from the author.

Wow! This is one of those books that grabbed me from the first page! Unputdownable! Absolutely amazing! Thrilling, chilling, shocking, and more! Well written, in a way that makes you feel the characters are real and hard to say goodbye to at the end! I think it was realistic, original, and fun to read! I highly, highly recommend this tantalizing, riveting read!
Will make sure to buzz it up on all the different platforms!

What an amazing book!! I really wasn’t sure quite what to expect or how this book would go, but it definitely didn’t disappoint. It went a different direction than I thought it would, but it was a perfect twisty psychological thriller. I read it in less than 24 hours because I just couldn’t put it down. Definitely read this one!!!