This book shocked me right from the beginning to the end, and I don't think I took a breath in between! It's a thriller about a college study on psychopaths. Students who participate in this study get their college education completely paid for, and the researcher is trying to teach them to exist peacefully in society. It's such a unique premise and the way the story is told really takes you inside the minds of the participants. To top it off, their participation is completely confidential so for much of the story both the characters and the reader are trying to figure out who else is a participant in the study. The story follows the POV of a few different participants in the study as well as a few of the surrounding characters and they sure don't disappoint! They are charming, intelligent, unpredictable, diabolical, and I'm not just talking about the psychopaths. I highly recommend this unputdownable story.

Never Saw Me Coming is a wonderfully mind-bending book that I really enjoyed. There is the usual tension and excitement filled "whodunit" and survival, yes. But the extra fun bit is, everyone is a psychopath, so who exactly can be trusted? Not the narrator, certainly. Not her classmates in the psychopath program, that is for sure. And since the whole program is so sketchy and secret, not anyone in charge either.

And sure, Chloe is plotting to kill this huge asshat named Will, but it's really fine. In fact, you'll probably hope she succeeds, if you're anything like me. The thing is, I think this is why the book is so fresh and readable: because we, the reader, get to experience the sort of person we aren't, the sort of person we can't even wrap our minds around properly. (At least, I hope, for most of us anyway.)

It also is unsettling because Chloe and her fellow 'paths are quite charming! They are smart, too, and know what society expects from them, and as such, are able to fit that mold. And because of their diagnosis, they're seen as less sympathetic murder victims, which is kind of crap, but also very thought provoking. Basically, this is a wild ride that I thoroughly enjoyed, and one that made me think while I was being entertained.

Bottom Line: Rooting for psychopaths is fun, who knew?

4.5 stars. I have been in the mood for thrillers and campus novels lately and this gave me the best of both. Add in some murders and college psychopaths and you get this engrossing story with fantastic characters who I could not get enough of. I think thriller lovers will really enjoy this one.

3.5 ⭐️ Rounded up.

Started off strong and held my attention for the first half, but the ending was somewhat disappointing.

2.5 ⭐️
I was very interested in the premise of a group of psychopaths at university, but it feel short of my expectations.

Narrated by 3 unreliable narrators, it left you guessing at what was the truth, which is definitely a point for Kurian.

I feel like more subject research was needed. As for one thing, the language used was not accurate for 18-20 year old students ex: “let’s triage” to say let’s hurry up when cleaning out a storage unit. Another was the reference to outdated technology.

Even though Kurian tried to build suspense throughout, I still found the book slow paced, perhaps because I didn’t feel a connection to the characters. I also found her use of acronyms annoying as she did not explain them so I had to stop and really think what she was saying before preceding with the story line.

Thank you to Net Galley & Killer Crime Club for the free ARC!

What I Loved
What I loved the most about this story is the awareness it brings to the many faces of the mental health disorder psychopathy and the lack of research on how to help people with this disorder. So little is known so that misconceptions and fears surround the disease. But being in the heads of people with psychopathy also makes for an edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller.

Narration is done in the first person, through Chloe Sevre, and in the third person, focused on Charles and Andre, which adds to the uncertainty, suspense, and thrills. All three are unreliable narrators, as goes with the diagnosis. Still, the unreliability is most notable with Chloe since the reader is experiencing the story the way she chooses to tell it. And she can tell a tale as few others can.

The whodunnit of the mystery of the two murders of people in the study is jaw-dropping. However, I must be honest – I figured it out in its entirety just over halfway through. I've been on a roll figuring out the conclusions lately, and I'm a licensed counselor, so I don't know if it is really that obvious. It still held my attention without fail and kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end.

The romance that wasn't really a romance between Chloe and Charles is just as fascinating as the characters themselves. Andre described them together as "… the charming white couple who claimed their car broke down in front of your house in a home invasion movie. Of course, you let them in because surely they weren't dangerous…". I loved that description as it concretely stated what I thought as I read their interactions and felt their chemistry.

Characters
I don't know that any of the characters are likable or relatable except for the most minor characters like Chloe's roommate. Yet, I was oddly drawn to Chloe. She fascinated me much as characters like Harley Quinn fascinate me. They are so broken yet so amazingly resilient that I'm in awe of just how they function from moment to moment. Charles is also fascinating in his own way has been an arguable success story for the program. And Andre – he intrigues me because what we are told about him does not jive in many places with the reaction of the people closest to him. These seeming contradictions had my radar up.

What I Wish
My main wish is that the story had stayed focused on Chloe and her past as well as her current plan. I love when thrillers remain focused on one plot thread, as those stories tend to keep me focused as well. When students start turning up dead, Chloe's plot thread becomes sidelined to the thread of who is killing the students participating in the study. There are only 7 of them, so the choices seem very few. Though interesting, I also felt that this whodunnit thread was not developed to the point where I could easily suspend my disbelief.

To Read or Not to Read
If you're looking for a fascinating thriller that is also somewhat of a study on people with psychopathy, Never Saw Me Coming is precisely the book you are looking for.

Never Saw Me Coming was a complete page-turner! Kurian does an excellent job bringing you into the minds and world of her psychopaths in a way that is both believable and spine-tingling. Expertly weaving tension, suspense, and a clear knowledge of how the mind works, Kurian has crafted one of the best thrillers of 2021 that has you rooting for her protagonist from page 1, despite knowing her sinister plans for murder. Not only is it entertaining, but you feel like you're learning psychology along with the characters while still feeling like the book is accessible and easy to read. The cast of characters was intriguing and dynamic, and the plot unique. I can't wait to see what Kurian gives us next!

A group of diagnosed psychopaths are attending a university in Washington DC – John Adams University. They have been selected to be part of Dr Leonard Wyman’s Multimethod Psychopathy Panel Study, a secret study that aims to train them to live a more normal life. One of the seven students is Chloe Sevré and she is joined by others including Andre Jensen, and Charles Portmont. The study group are having their movements and moods monitored using smartwatches. Chloe has a plan of her own; she is plotting to kill another student, Will Bachman who is an old school chum. But when other students start dying, one of whom is found in the psychology building, a game of cat and mouse ensues.

The backdrop of a university campus works well in this disturbing thriller that I became engrossed in very quickly. The story is told in an interesting format; the reader hears from Chloe, Andre and Charles for most of the narrative. Chloe is the dominant player being the hunter and the hunted, and her pieces are imparted from both the first and third perspectives. Although I couldn’t say I actually liked any of the characters, they all had fascinating aspects and redeemable traits. Charles is solid, academically with a nice girlfriend and political aspirations. Andre is someone who experiences tragedy at a young age.

Never Saw Me Coming is a darkly comic, complicated tale that takes unreliable narration and shakes it with a huge dollop of distrust. With its twisty, meandering path, and a satisfying ending. I’m pleased I chose to read this great début and I’ll be keeping my eyes peeled for more from Vera Kurian.

A special thank you to Park Row and the author for a complimentary copy of this novel at my request, received via NetGalley. This review is my unbiased opinion.

Never Saw Me Coming by Vera Kurian is a clever book about Psychopaths who are in a University Program to study their Psychopathy. The book switches between 3 narrators who are part of the program and how they navigate college life, relationships and a murderer who seems to be targeting members of their program. The book was an interesting ride although at times unbelievable. I found it interesting as well in that I did not find any of the characters likeable and I felt that the ending was a bit rushed in who the actual killer was. There wasn't much leading up to why the killer was and why the group was targeted. It was very rushed to get to the end and other side stories were too long. Still an enjoyable read, thank you NetGalley and Harlequin for the free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I finished Never Saw Me Coming a couple of weeks ago, but held off on my review bc I’m not good at reviews.
I enjoyed this book immensely. I loved the idea of psychopaths becoming the hunted-a very intriguing concept that left me staying up late into the night/early morning to finish.
The idea of a college/university having a program that studies the inner thoughts and behaviors of psychopaths to try and give them a fighting chance at a “normal life” is thrilling within itself. Now, add in murder and you have to figure out who you can trust when you are surrounded by fellow psychopaths. Who can be trusted? Can anyone be trusted? Your life will depend on your decision.

Chloe isn’t your average college freshman. She’s a psychopath. No, literally. She’s attending college as part of a program with six other diagnosed psychopath students, designed to monitor their moods and feelings, and just maybe to help them learn some semblance of empathy for other people. The scholarship is nice and all, but Chloe has plans of her own – she’s there to kill Will Bachman for a wrong done to her years ago.

The students aren’t supposed to know each other. They’re never supposed to meet. But when oen of them ends up dead, and then another, Chloe and two other students in the program work together to sort out who’s doing the killing. Can they figure it out before the killer takes them out, too?

This was a fascinating concept for a book! Chloe is an engaging main character – sharp and funny, and always calculating how to turn any situation to her advantage. She’s a psychopath, a “bad guy,” but she isn’t. Sure, she wants to kill Will, but he did her wrong. In her mind, that justifies his death. If Chloe were a real person and I knew her, I suspect I’d find her mostly likeable, if coming off a bit of a mean girl sometimes.

Someone killing program students is an entirely different matter, though. That isn’t acceptable, largely because Chloe values her own skin, and if she’s dead, she can’t take Will out.

Charles and Andre, the two program students working with Chloe to figure out who’s behind the killings, are interesting as well. Three young people with the same diagnosis, yet very different in their backgrounds and personalities, their relationships, and how they present themselves. Their interactions are fascinating. Can they trust each other? Is one of them the killer? Who’s lying? Who’s not exactly lying, but maybe gaming the others a little?

And the ending. I’m not giving it away, but I didn’t see it coming until it whapped me upside the head. I love books where I don’t figure it out ages before the big reveal!

This was a unique take on the thriller, and a bang-up debut from Vera Kurian. Five nail-biting stars from me. Thanks to Netgalley and Park Row Books for an advance reader copy.

This was a really unique thriller that was so fun to read. I loved the tie in to the serial killer and had hoped for a twist regarding the other professors death. The relationships between the 7 psychopaths was so unique and their different personality traits were fascinating.
4/5 from me because it was a little slow to start and I wanted more about the previous professor. It felt like something was missing but I loved everything else.

A campus thriller not to be missed. Chloe is a psychopath who is asked to join in on a psychological study of other psychopaths on her campus. One is found murdered and the excitement to find the killer begins.

Never Saw Me Coming is a roller coaster ride of a thriller that asks who would be hunting students diagnosed as psychopaths? The story moves between various POVs; primarily, Chloe, Charles, and Andre, all members of the same study who aren't supposed to know about each other, but are trying to find out why two other members of the study have been murdered.
It's a really fascinating look at how people react differently to similar events, and how those who don't have boundaries handle their problems, including Chloe and why she is on campus in the first place. Readers won't be able to put it down as they race to find out the next twist.

Thank you to HARLEQUIN - Trade Publishing, Vera Kurian and Netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Wow. I thought this book was fun! Never Saw Me Coming is a psychological thriller set on a college campus about a group of students who just happen to be psychopaths. Chloe is starting her freshman year at John Adams university in Washington DC. She has a free ride for being one of seven students participating in a psychology study. Chloe has her own agenda though, and while the free ride is nice and all, she's come to the school looking for revenge.

The book opens with Chloe in control as the hunter, but along the way someone starts killing the students in her program, and now she's become the prey. She teams up with two other people from her program to try figure out who the killer is - only, what if it's one of them?

I loved this book! I read this instead of doing dishes or folding laundry. I skipped an appointment to read this book. It's one of those completely engrossing - you can't do anything - just one more chapter - I'll sleep when I'm dead books. The psychopaths are all unreliable narrators and I could never tell if they were telling the truth or if they were lying. It made the book so twisty turny and nerve-racking,

I loved getting a look inside the mindsets of these characters (Chloe's inner voice was so funny!). A psychopath isn't usually the main character. It was fun rooting for the "bad" guys for a change - because they weren't bad. The book can make you question how we as a society use labels, especially in regards to mental health, and the stigma that it creates.

I gave this book 4½ stars rounded up to 5. Never Saw Me Coming does not read like a debut novel; it reads as a seasoned thriller writer. I've already ordered a copy for my library and I will gladly read her following books. Recommended for fans of: psychological thrillers/suspense, mysteries, Dexter, psychology, general fiction, The End of the F***ing World, women's fiction and Sherlock/Hannibal.

If you are a person who has ever thought, "You know, I'd really like to read a book about psychopaths, but I'd also really like to read a book that's fun," then Never Saw Me Coming is 100% the book for you! The concept behind Vera Kurian's debut novel is killer (ha ha): A university offers an exclusive scholarship to a group of diagnosed psychopaths, under the condition that they will be subject to mood experiments and regular sessions with a renowned psychologist. At the beginning of the book we meet Chloe Sevre, one of seven students in this anonymous program, who has followed a childhood friend to college with the intention of executing a four-phase plan to murder him. But someone's killing participants in the program -- will Chloe be able to complete her goal before being murdered herself?

Never Saw Me Coming is darkly funny and never really takes itself too seriously, and I had a lot of fun reading it. It was so intriguing to read from the perspective of a diagnosed psychopath who interacts differently with other people and the world. While Kurian does delve into deeper issues (debunking the assumption that all diagnosed psychopaths are murderers; the effects of various types of trauma; racial and class inequality), the book never really loses its sense of fun.

The book does lose focus as it goes along, introducing multiple points of-view and some side plots that meander and are never really resolved. It gets a little messy there for a while, but the ending is solid and, true to the title, I really did not see it coming.

Thank you to NetGalley and Park Row for my review copy! I definitely enjoyed myself on this wild ride.

This is an interesting read (listen)( I had the eBook and the audio). It deals with a psychology program set up to try to understand and help people who don't have empathy for others. It's fascinating. The question is can a psychopath be helped, saved, and why would you even try.

You should never trust a psychopath.

But what if you had no choice?

It would be easy to underestimate Chloe Sevre. She’s a freshman honor student, a legging-wearing hot girl next door, who also happens to be a psychopath. She spends her time on yogalates, frat parties and plotting to kill Will Bachman, a childhood friend who grievously wronged her.

Chloe is one of seven students at her DC-based college who are part of an unusual clinical study of psychopaths - students like herself who lack empathy and can’t comprehend emotions like fear or guilt. The study, led by a renowned psychologist, requires them to wear smart watches that track their moods and movements.

When one of the students in the study is found murdered in the psychology building, a dangerous game of cat and mouse begins, and Chloe goes from hunter to prey.

4.5 stars. I was blown away by the debut thriller. It is hands down the best thriller I have read this year. I loved how the characters were developed. I loved the concept of the plot and how it progressed. My only ding was that I wished Chloe, Charles, and Andre would have been more viable suspects for longer. I have been telling all of my friends to pick this one up, and I cannot wait to see what Kurian writes next!!!!!! Top notch debut!

Book Review- No Spoilers

Wow, this book really drew me in. The basic premise is that a university in Washington DC has a special program that gives free tuition to students diagnosed as psychopaths in exchange for the students being part of a study. The program is under wraps and the participants don’t even know the others in the program.

The characters are well developed and though they have the same diagnosis, they all have their own personality quirks and backgrounds that make them stand out. The author is a woman, so the few sex/hook up scenes are through the lens of a female, which is refreshing. The author also has a firm grip on trends and how the Gen Z mind works (I guess that would be the generation in college right now)? However, the novel is also timeless in the archetypes used. For instance, there is mentions of protests going on, but the issues behind the protests are not identified (your mind can fill in the blank with whatever is currently going on in society).

There is violence, murder and sexual assault in this book. I’m somewhat squeamish with violence, but I was able to handle the descriptions in this book with ease because it was all part of the broader narrative.

5 stars! And thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book. Release date is 9/7/21 from Park Row.

Never Saw Me Coming is a book about a group of seven psychopaths being enrolled in a research study together at John Adams University, but they don't know who the other participants are. Chloe Sevre is one of those psychopaths and alongside upholding her 4.0 grade average she is on a mission to kill the person who raped her. But when two students (assumed to also be in the study) are murdered on campus her own murderous plans become complicated as she begins to wonder if one of the other psychopaths' is truly off the rails and if she just might be the being hunted! Along the way Chloe discovers who a few of the other psychopaths are and teams up them to determine the killer's identity....but can you really trust another psychopath?

Overall I really enjoyed this book. I liked the premise and it had me guessing who the murderous culprit was until the reveal. Writing about psychopathy opens up so many lanes to really twist a story. The chapters are either narrated by Chloe or by a third person focused on a few of the other characters, which works well when you aren't sure who to trust as everyone is manipulative or lying in some way. This is an easy one to recommend for fans that enjoy mystery/thrillers books. It's Vera Kurian's first book and I will definitely check out what she does next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin/Park Row for the copy of this one to read. Scheduled to release 9.7.2021