“Magpie” is a quintessential psychological thriller, where much of the book is spent in the heads of its main characters and then you realize they may not be as reliable as you’d think. The major twist in the book comes in the middle of it, but then it felt like the book meanders after that point. I was expecting more high drama to occur after the twist is established, but that was not the case. The last half of the book was largely uneventful. As a result, this is a 3 star 🌟 book for me, solid, but not one that I really loved. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the copy in exchange for a review.

A mother's love clash when two women fight for the birth of the same child. One is fighting to be a mother and the other is fighting for the babies future and its father. This novel shows just how far women will go for their family.

Magpie is a stylish suspense novel filled with feminism and hope. A bit predictable, this novel tips the edge of devotion into obsession. Thank you Simon & Schuster for the complimentary copy.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for an ARC of Magpie in exhange for an honest review!

Magpie is a domestic thriller full of twists and unlikable characters. It kept me guessing throughout. This book heavily depicts infertility and mental illness, which may be triggering for some readers. The story is fast-moving and bingeable - I couldn't wait for the ending!

I was really into this book until about 75% in. The ending was disappointing - I wanted more from the villian or something off the rails to happen!

From my blog: Always With a Book

I had this book on my radar ever since I saw it being talked about when it was published last year in the UK. I just knew it was something I wanted to read and I’m so glad I did – it was exactly the type of psychological thriller I love!

This book kept me guessing all the way through. I loved that every time I thought I knew where things were headed, a new twist would totally turn things upside down. It takes the unreliable narrator and adds in so many other layers that you aren’t sure which way is up or who to trust.

I will say that if you are sensitive to the fertility journey, this might be a tough read for you. I myself struggled with infertility, though I am many years removed, and yet reading this I felt like I was right back there – that’s how spot on and real these scenes are. The book takes you on quite the emotional journey on that end, so just be aware if that is a trigger for you.

I loved this book. It is so cleverly plotted and things are definitely not what they seem. Not only is fertility touched upon as I mentioned above, but also mental health, which makes it such a fitting book to read this month. You just know things aren’t right, but you can’t quite put your finger on what exactly is wrong and there is this sense of impending dread coming. This, to me, is what makes it such a good psychological thriller and I had such a hard time putting this one down once I started it.

This is the first book I’ve read by Elizabeth Day but it certainly will not be the last, especially if all her other books are as engaging and gripping as this one!

Yes Yes Yes! I feel like this book is underrated on social media when it should absolutely be a book that everyone picks up! It's such a good one and I had a hard time putting this down - I pretty much read it in one sitting and loved it. Cannot wait to read what the author writes next! Thank you so much for the opportunity to read and review!

This book was just ok for me. It definitely wasn’t the thriller I was hoping for. Thanks to NetGalley for the privilege to read and review this book.

This book came so close to being a 5 star book for me but kind of fizzled out in the end… it did have some great twists that I didn’t see coming. I really enjoyed this thriller. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for review.

Speaking of better, could there be a more epic tag line than: “She has almost everything. The rest she’ll take.”? Catchy, right?

I’m not going to say too much about Elizabeth Day’s @elizabday Magpie, other than get yourself a copy. Get an audio copy, get a digital copy, or get a paper copy, but just get one and then send me a DM and let me know if you saw that twist coming.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to review!
Link to 5/4/2022 Instagram post:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CdJeizwrlQ_/

This book was a wild, unexpected ride. There were a few times that I thought it was going to go the predictable route and it completely surprised me. There was a big shocker in the middle, which I LOVED and then I just couldn't rely on anything and I loved that. It's hard to review without giving any spoilers, but I really recommend it!

Sadly this one was not for me. A bit too slow of a slow-burner and didn’t find a few scenarios believable, I do appreciate this arc in exchange for an honest review and thank the publisher and netgalley for this privilege.

One-sentence summary:
Even though they haven’t known each other long, Marisa and Jake have moved in together and are trying for a baby, but when they take in a roommate named Kate, who seems a little too ‘familiar’ with Jake, all three lives suddenly become upended.
—
This book is 110% psychological thriller, which is sort of my favorite thing in the world, so I couldn’t stop turning the pages! I basically finished it in 24 hours.

It’s told from the POVs of Marisa and Kate, and there’s a very fun twist about one-third of the way into the story that turns the entire scenario on its head. I also really enjoyed the family dysfunction of Jake – his mother, in particular, is a perfectly flawed character.

While certain plot points do stretch the imagination a bit, it is written so well that it’s easily forgiven. One thing that helps to keep it grounded is that the exploration of the struggles of infertility in the book is thorough, well-researched and very much based in reality. In addition, Day does such an exceptional job of getting the reader into the heads of both Marisa and Kate.

This is now out in hardcover!

Thank you Simon & Schuster for the ARC!

This story wants to be so many things: a testament to infertility, a statement on mental health, a psychological thriller, etc. The author really tries to tie it altogether in one neat package but the story unraveled for me when the character point of view changed halfway through.

Magpie is a solid read for the first half and then comes the twist which changes everything. This is a difficult storyline to review without revealing information. I did like the change in point of view. A story of the trials and tribulations of infertility, Kate and Jake and Marisa, have a plan to have a baby. I did identify with Kate to a point, but once Annabelle entered the picture it became more difficult. The plan that evolves in the second half seemed very unrealistic to me and the ending was a letdown. I kept hoping for a reoccurrence of the magpie, as I loved the prophetic symbolism of its first appearance.
Many thanks to Elizabeth Day, Simon Schuster, and NetGalley for affording me the opportunity to read an arc of this recently published book.

A twisty thriller that examines the misery and grief of those who struggle with pregnancy. There is also a great mental health representation that I feel was handled well. Throughout the story you wonder who's point of view is reality and who's is delirium. Some may not appreciate these themes, but I thought it was done well.

Magpie was a great read - a few twists and turns, and some confusion all made clear in the end. It kept me turning pages late into the night, needing to sleep, but also wanting to know what happened.

Marisa and Jake are a perfect couple. And Kate, their new lodger, is the perfect roommate. Except—no one is truly perfect. Kate is too familiar with the couple, and Marisa isn't getting pregnant as fast as she hoped. The trouble really starts when Marisa meets Jake's mom. And when she discovers the secret going on behind her back.
Mapgie is touted as a psychological suspense novel about motherhood. So I read it on Mother's Day. It was entertaining, and I connected emotionally with the two female characters - I wanted them both to fulfill their dreams.
But Jake was a twat. And the plot of his codependent relationship with his mother never concludes.
The story also fell short as a thriller. I was only surprised once. The big twists didn't actually affect me, which was disappointing. Maybe that's because of the spoiler editor's note at the beginning of the novel that hints that everything could be a lie. I kept reading and thinking, "Is this true?" And when the twist came, it was a letdown. I would have rather not known the novel's direction.
There is plenty of information about infertility. That part was interesting and heartbreaking, especially on Mother's Day.

I highly enjoyed this book about motherhood, infertility, pregnancy, and mental illness. Jake and Marisa move in together after a short courtship and want to start a family together. After awhile Jakes work slows down and they decide to take in a boarder to help with finances. Things were good in the beginning but soon went awry. In the second part of the book every thing turns around and you won't see it coming. If you like domestic thrillers you will love this one.

Loved the suspense. This worked so well for me as a boost from a reading rut -good thrillers do that. I also want to comment on the way the author handled infertility and motherhood. It was so graceful, a quality so many thriller type books lack.

We first meet Marisa, who has just recently embarked upon a relationship with Jake, and has moved into a house with him, with plans to begin a family quickly. This is rather too quickly followed by the appearance of Kate, who makes herself right at home with the two, much to Marisa's dismay.

A bit unusually, a rather major plot turn occurs about 1/3 of the way through the book, making the remaining 2/3 tricky to comment on. Overall, the reader is kept questioning where this is all going, with a red herring or two thrown in, though I found the ultimate reveal to fall a little flat. However, and probably not all will agree, the ending was satisfying, and a little unexpected, especially considering the dark subject matter touched upon throughout.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

If you like domestic thrillers, especially those that focus on motherhood and children, then you will love Magpie! This one is definitely a slow burn, and if I’m being honest it was a little too slow for me. I felt like it rambled a little too much and had a little too much inner dialogue, but the basis of the story was good! There’s definitely some good twists in there and the ending did help to make up for some of the slow parts. Overall I’d say this was a solid thriller, but I do prefer mine to be a little on the faster side.