This one was actually a DNF for me! I think it was a combination of not finding the time I needed to read it before book club, plus it's just not a genre I love. It was a book club pick, which is why I picked it up. Just couldn't get into it.

Never Saw Me Coming stood out to me with it's cast of characters.
It is rare to read about main character who happens to be a psychopath, but it is extremely difficult to find a book with many psychopaths represented, all in one story, all together hanging around, making jokes and just simply being themselves.

I am sorry to say that with all the preparing for the grand finale and revelation about the killer, I ended up disappointed and to say it simple, the end was underwhelming.

Overall, this was very entertaining novel set in college and I would recommend it as a quick read, but I wasn't satisfied with the way it wrapped up.

Never Saw Me Coming is the fast paced and very unique debut novel by Vera Kurian, which was published on September 7, 2021.

I highly recommend this one for readers who enjoy thrillers with a psychological backstory. From what I understand the author herself has a background in Psychology and that clearly shone through throughout the book.

I thought that the first third was very strong, the middle part of the book okay and the end had me like: 'wow'.


Thank you so much to Harper Collins CA, Park Row Books and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this in advance!

I was pleasantly surprised to find that I really enjoyed this book.

Is it okay to root for psychopaths? I find myself doing so, especially with Chloe, who just wants to live her best life, despite having murderous tendencies, particularly towards Will, The Boy Who Wronged Her when she was a teenager. I can't imagine myself ever being friends with someone as manipulative and cunning as Chloe, but reading about her and her thinking process has been an enlightening experience; how psychopaths have that extra layer of notgivingashit that normal people can't comprehend.

Would recommend this to fans of whodunits!

Unlike anything I’ve read before, it was a little slow at times but overall I enjoyed it. I definitely did not see it coming, I think it would make a really good mini series!

Never Saw Me Coming is a very unique psychological thriller about a group of students who are registered for college as part of a clinical psychology study. Chloe is part of this group, and she has another motive, to find a boy she once knew who betrayed her in high school. When one of the students in the group is murdered, they slowly begin to find each other and work together to find out what's going on!

It was really interesting to learn more about psychopathy and how its viewed in society vs. what it looks like in everyday life! The characters are all so different, complex, and intriguing! Though I really enjoyed it, I didn't find myself super connected to the story.. I think it was a bit too long, and I expected more from the ending! I'm glad I read it and would recommend for something very original and fun!

Thanks to NetGalley and Park Row Books for my copy!

3.5/5 stars

I was really excited to read Never Saw Me Coming given the amazing premise of a psychopath knocking off psychopaths, but in the end, it fell a little flat for me. Maybe it's because psychopaths by nature are generally unlikeable, but Chloe kind of got on my nerves and I wish the writing and plotting had been a bit more polished.

This was a decent enough read. It read quickly, it's written fairly well. It's a bit formulaic (albeit, fun to think about). The book starts out super confusing and there are twists and turns. Some are expected and some are not. The idea behind using sociopathy as a main subject is fresh, so that's interesting. It was worthwhile to read, but not something I will shout from the rooftops for others to do so as well.

This was a really interesting psychological suspense book. I really enjoyed the twists and the idea behind it.

This book will keep you reading. A unique story that might cause you to take a closer look at those around you.

New to me author but definitely won't be last. Thoroughly enjoyed this story. Thanks Netgalley and to the publisher for letting me read this advance copy.

This was a stellar debut with an interesting concept. A group of psychopaths is brought together on a college campus for the purpose of a scientific study, when suddenly, participants in the study appear to be targeted by a murderer. We primarily follow three perspectives in this story, all of which are participants in the study. As they race to figure out who is behind the murders for their own protection, they also all have their own agendas that are determining their behaviors. They all struggle with the same question: can you ever really trust a psychopath? This book was well-written, with multiple plotlines coming together smoothly and an appropriate amount of information about psychopathy without sounding too much like hard science. Readers won't be rooting for any particular character, as they all have some pretty significant flaws and prove themselves to be unreliable for a variety of reasons, but readers will be invested in how it all turns out. There are plenty of viable red herrings and subplots that could be impacting events and readers will want to make it to the end to see how it all shakes out. There are some gruesome scenes and the reading experience was very similar to watching an episode of criminal minds (without the police perspectives). I will definitely be recommending this one to fans of thrillers and psychological fiction and will be looking for more from this author in the future.

This was a fun, fast read with unexpected twists. This says a lot because it's hard to surprise me. Dark, snarky, and fast-paced, this thriller will have you wanting to turn the page. Though structurally conventional, telling the story from the psychotic's PoV made it feel fresh throughout.

I enjoyed this book but found the end to be more interesting than the beginning. Our main character is Chloe and she is interesting as she perceives things. They are in a school and 7 psychopaths are involved in the story, Chloe being one. They are taking part in a study, however one of Chloe's main goals in life in ending the life of Will. She and Will have a past. The book was good but tended to ramble in places.

Chloe Sevre is not your typical college freshman. Yes, she likes frat parties, leggings, and the local coffee shop. Chloe chose John Adams University for two reasons, she got a full-ride scholarship to take part in a program for psychopaths and it would give her easy access to Will Bachman, the man she wants to murder. Chloe is one of seven taking part in the program for psychopaths. She is not supposed to know who the others are in the group, but she has figured out at least two other participants. Charles is an upperclassman from a wealthy, connected family who has learned how to live with his diagnosis. Andre was from a working-class DC family who saw his full-ride scholarship as the answer to their prayers. And then members of the program get murdered. Any of them could have done it, but who is responsible, and what happens when they go after Chloe?



I wasn't sure what to expect from Never Saw Me Coming, but I got a fast-paced thriller with a unique premise. Remember, Chloe is a psychopath. Knowing that gave me permission to not like her. She is a pretty unlikable character. Andre was the only one that I kind of liked, but the reasons are revealed later. You can see the evolution of psychopaths in the program by seeing how different Chloe and Charles are in the way they handle their diagnosis. I am not sure if the big surprise ending was ironic or just shocking. CLICK HERE FOR SPOILERS



Bottom Line - Never Saw Me Coming was better than I expected from a new author. I look forward to seeing what she does next.



Details:

Never Saw Me Coming by Vera Kurian
On Twitter
Pages: 400
Publisher: Park Row Books
Publication Date: 9/7/2021
Buy it Here!
Thanks to NetGalley for the book in exchange for a review

A mystery/thriller narrated by psychopaths makes for a wild ride. You can see that the author, who has a PhD in Social Psychology, is trying to show that not everyone with a psychopath diagnosis is a killer. Yet, the characters are complex and feel like untrustworthy narrators. There are murders and you get a feeling that any of the characters could have done it (I was even suspicious of the psychology professor or his grad student). You have one narrator who is plotting a revenge death (and part of the plot is why on earth is she after this guy?). This book held my attention from beginning to end and it felt fresh in the thriller genre.

Dark and edgy book. I haven’t read a thriller like this in a long time. I couldn’t put the book down for the last half!

Not really sure what to think of this one. Having 7 people who apparently qualify as psychopaths isn't going to end well no matter what. The story didn't really just grab my attention like I thought it would.

Interesting premise, but I didn't finish it because I was too busy to give it the attention that it needed.

I absolutely loved the premise of this book! It was so interesting and I liked how the characters interacted with one another. It was a little confusing with the changing viewpoints, but overall a pretty good and quick read!