Thank you for the e book copy of this book. A definite page turner! I am looking forward to reading their newest book when it comes out!

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. It's not normally a setting or age group that I read but there was something about the characters that had me wanting to find out more.
I'm glad I gave it a chance, glad that I read something by this author.

My project of getting through neglected mystery / suspense ARCs by checking out audiobook copies via work continues, this time with Never Saw Me Coming by Vera Kurian. I think this is another one I may have downloaded thanks to a NetGalley promo email and just like A Likeable Woman, y'all I've been burned. This is a book that's long on clever premise and not much else.

Chloe Sevre looks like the picture perfect college freshman. Young, pretty, and an honors student to boot. She also happens to be a diagnosed psychopath. Chloe knew one thing when she started to apply to colleges, she had to be in the Washington D.C. area. She ended up at her first choice, John Adams University, receiving a full ride to take part in a unusual clinical study on psychopathy - Chloe is one of seven students taking part and none of them know who is who. But the study, the free ride, those are incidental. No, Chloe is at John Adams because that's where Will Bachman goes to school, and Chloe plans to kill Will Bachman in 60 days.

Chloe gets to work right away, but her plan runs off the rails almost immediately when a student is found dead in the psychology department. A student who was taking part in the psychopathy study. Then a second student ends up dead, another one taking part in the study, and it becomes apparent that someone is hunting down the psychopaths.

Into Chloe's orbit enters Charles, another psychopath running for student body president and Andre, also taking part in the study but turns out - he's a faker. Andre's no more a psychopath than I am the Queen of England, but he saw his opportunity for free college and took a shot. In between her plans to kill Will, Chloe now is "working" with Charles and Andre to find out who is killing the psychopaths because obviously, well she's in danger. But "working" together for this girl is one part manipulation and two parts staying ahead of the curve.

See, clever premise. So what's the problem? Well for a book about someone murdering psychopaths there's an appalling lack of tension in this book. Like none. No edge of my seat. No OMG I have to find out what happens next! Nothing. In fact I really only kept reading because I kept thinking I was going to get some sort of "twist." More on that in a minute actually....

The story is also told from multiple points of view and honestly? It's a big reason for the lack of tension. Chloe, Andre and Charles. That's all we need. Do we need chapters told from the lead shrink's perspective? From one of his grad assistants? From one of the detectives? No. No, we do not. In fact they don't really add anything other than page count.

But the real issue I disliked this book? Chloe. Thanks, I hate her. And hating her has nothing to do with the fact that she's a psychopath. No, she's one of those characters who thinks she's smarter than she actually is. Lord is this girl a dumb bunny. She bungles her plan with Will early on, she manages to fall prey to another psychopath in the study (who hacks her webcam) and, most importantly, she can't tell Andre is faking it. For that matter, neither can the shrink or the grad assistants running the study - which who the hell gave this guy a ton of grant money? God bless America.

The whole thing lumbers along, Wendy keeps waiting for the twist, and then we get the frenetic ending that ugh - makes me regret not DNF'ing this stupid book. Our twist here is no twist at all (I saw it coming the minute the plot element was introduced) and is straight up schlocky B horror movie - or like a romantic suspense novel from the 1990s. And because I'm so annoyed, I'm spoiling it:

Spoiler: One word. Twins. And of course the eviiiiilllll twin is the one who seems normal.

I've been reading suspense novels since I hit puberty, so it's possible I'm being entirely too cranky about this one. This debut was nominated for an Edgar Award (Best First Novel) and was named a New York Times Best Thriller of 2021. But honestly, who ya gonna believe? Them or your Auntie Wendy, who's always looking out for you.

Oh what might have been with this clever premise if Andre had been the one driving the bus. Missed opportunities y'all. Missed opportunities.

Final Grade = D

I forgot to leave a review for this, but I really enjoyed it! It's been out for ages, so I won't say much more than I need to for my star rating. <3

Really pleasantly surprised for a debut author. I loved this book. The study about psychopathy was an interesting topic and I was there for it!

A unique story line with a study group of psychopaths as the victims. The characters must decide what is real and what is just a symptom of their lack of emotions. Definitely worth a read.

I am sorry for the inconvenience but I don’t have the time to read this anymore and have lost interest in the concept. I believe that it would benefit your book more if I did not skim your book and write a rushed review. Again, I am sorry for the inconvenience.

Decent thriller set on a college campus, where there exists a program to study psychopaths. Students are being murdered, while other murders are being planned, and no one (not even the reader) is certain who to trust. I liked the characters a lot, but they seemed overly mature and calculated for teenagers. I also felt like I missed some of the motivation of the revealed killer. But as a GW University alum, I loved the setting!!!

Perfectly average mystery/thriller that reminded me heavily of 90s-era YA paperbacks. Bold move using actual greek organizations in the narrative! I know this is a novel and I should suspend disbelief, but how did this study (individuals with psychopathy get college tuition covered in exchange for participation) get IRB approval?

If you are looking for an absolutely wild and compulsive psychological thriller (particularly one about psychopathy)—Vera Kurian’s Never Saw Me Coming is your next read! I didn’t go into this with any expectations, and I found it dark, fun, and a bit bonkers.

Chloe Sevre is not your average athleisure-wearing, honors student, college freshman. While Chloe may rock a pair of yoga pants with the best of them, find herself hooking up with a hot guy at a frat party, and chatting with the girls in the dorm, she’s also plotting to kill Will Bachman. Will was someone Chloe knew from childhood, and she’s made it her mission to get him back for something he did years ago.

When Chloe enrolls at John Adams University in Washington D.C., she’s one of seven students admitted with a full ride to participate in a study on psychopathy. Chloe and the other six students have all been diagnosed with psychopathy disorder. They don’t know who one another are, but in exchange for their tuition they have agreed to attend weekly sessions with the professor overseeing the study and wear a wristwatch that tracks their emotional states periodically.

Chloe has spent her life learning to mimic the emotions and behaviors of others around her. Now, she will put those skills to the test as she circles around Will, preparing to murder him. She may not feel fear or guilt, but she certainly feels vengeance. However, when one of the other students participating in the study is murdered in the psychology building, it becomes clear that one of the psychopaths is out to get the other ones. Chloe must shift her focus to identify the killer before she becomes the next victim.

While the book is primarily narrated by Chloe, there are also some chapters narrated by two other students enrolled in the psychopathy study—Charles and Andre. Charles is the stereotypical young, attractive psychopath (f you can consider a psychopath stereotypical). Andre, on the other hand, is not a psychopath. He faked his way into the study in exchange for the free tuition. Andre offers the reader the conscience and empathy we are lacking in the other perspectives, which added balance to the story. Chloe and Charles are the sort of characters who you shouldn’t like but you find yourself liking despite yourself. I guess that is the power of a psychopath, right? Manipulation!

The story has a lot of twists and turns along the way. The psychopathy study itself was fascinating! The cat and mouse game between Chloe and Will hooked me, and that story evolves and wraps up sooner than expected as the main focus of the book shifts to the person stalking the study participants. Chloe is a really great character—she’s smart and strategic. She doesn’t lack feelings, nor does she set out to harm others (without a strong case for it). She’s the prototype for someone born with psychopathy who with therapy could potentially go on to live a relatively normal life.

I had a lot of fun reading this one! The story was addictive and this is easily a read-in-one-day book. I would be interested in reading more about these characters or even a follow up to some things revealed in the ending. A tantalizing and compulsive psychological thriller for fans of the darker side of humanity!

Reading an advanced reader copy of "Never Saw Me Coming" by Vera Kurian was a captivating experience that immersed me in a world where the line between right and wrong is tantalizingly blurry. Kurian's debut novel is a chilling exploration of psychopathy, revenge, and the intricate web of human relationships.

In this gripping narrative, we enter the world of Dr. Matilda Deacon, a brilliant psychology student who embarks on a groundbreaking study at an elite university. Her research delves into the minds of psychopaths, specifically focusing on a group of exceptionally gifted psychopathic students who exhibit extraordinary intelligence and cunning. The story unfolds as a psychological game of cat and mouse, where hidden agendas and dark secrets fuel the plot.

Vera Kurian's writing is sharp and immersive, pulling the reader into a world where morality is questioned at every turn. The narrative is enriched by the alternating perspectives of the psychopathic characters, each with their own distinctive voices, providing a multifaceted exploration of the psyche. Kurian's portrayal of the characters and her deep understanding of psychopathy adds authenticity to the story.

The characters are deeply complex, and as we delve into their psychopathic minds, we are compelled to confront the morality and ethics that underpin their actions. Dr. Matilda Deacon, herself a mysterious figure, presents a compelling protagonist whose motives and intentions are skillfully shrouded in ambiguity.

"Never Saw Me Coming" is a story of manipulation, intelligence, and the dark allure of revenge. The sense of foreboding and suspense is palpable, and the narrative continually keeps readers guessing about the characters' true motivations. The atmosphere of psychological tension is a testament to Kurian's storytelling prowess.

While the narrative is generally enthralling, there were moments when the story's pacing slowed, and some readers may find the numerous perspectives somewhat disorienting. Additionally, the novel's conclusion, though thought-provoking, left certain aspects unresolved, which may leave readers with a sense of ambiguity.

In conclusion, "Never Saw Me Coming" is a mind-bending debut that delves into the complexities of psychopathy and human morality. Vera Kurian's exploration of these intricate themes through well-drawn characters and a suspenseful narrative makes this novel a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers. If you seek a story that challenges your perceptions and keeps you on edge, "Never Saw Me Coming" is a book you won't want to miss.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me access to an advanced reader copy of this thought-provoking novel.

I struggled with this book a little. I had a hard time keeping up with the different character point of views for the first half of the book. There at times seemed like there was of POV's too which also confused me. I did love the story line overall though, it was something different and something I haven't read before. Id be interested to read other books for Vera Kurian.

A psychological thriller with psychopath narrators. Slow burn book and the thought of serial killers lurking on campus captured my attention. Thank you netgalley for providing me with this review copy for a fair and honest review.

This one sounds so good, unfortunately it didn’t live up to my expectations. The different POVs threw me off and kept taking me out of the story.

Clever, quick, and thrilling — Never Saw Me Coming is a joyride from page one. In the nation's capital, seven students attend a university as part of a clinical study on psychopaths — because they themselves, are psychopaths. When one of the students in the study is found murdered... that's when the fun begins. Was it one of the students in the study? Or are all of the students in the study now in danger? Who can you trust? With a fierce approach and dark humor, this book reels you in and doesn't let go.

I love this book so much and I am so depressed because I don't think there's going to be a sequel to it and I really really wanted there to be one! So I'm putting my hope out into the universe and crossing my fingers!

Seriously, I have waited to review this one because I keep hoping that there's going to be more and I'm starting to fear there won't be.

Thank you to the publisher for allowing me advance access to this title. I really enjoyed reading this story and look forward to reading more from this author. As a reader, I am really motivated by character driven stories and I found myself quickly becoming immersed in these characters’ lives. Full review to come.

This was a wild ride - it kept me on my toes and I did not see the ending coming. I actually listened to the audiobook instead of reading a hardcopy, but I thought the audiobook was really well done.

THIS BOOK! What a whirlwind... and such a crazy, twisted story!
The premise and idea of this book makes me wonder more about the author than the story itself - genius or psychopath? I'm punny, I know ;)

I had the honor of hosting Vera in a zoom chat to give us some insight into the book's creation and I'm still in awe that such a beautiful soul such as Vera wrote this story. It was messed up - in the best way possible.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my complimentary eARC in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. Please excuse my tardiness in posting my review. My TBR list is continuously growing and I keep finding so many amazing books being requested + added to my pile! I have so much gratitude for this copy that has been shared with me.

A completely unique thriller unlike anything I have read before. This debut novel from Kurian really impressed me and I am looking forward to reading more from her in the future.