Jake and Marissa long for a baby and end up taking in a roommate in order to save for their future family. But Kate the roommate has a lot of deceit and tricks up her sleeve. She is a little too comfortable and Marissa is determined to find out who Kate is at all costs. Loved the single white female vibes. Def a nail biter and so satisfying once we found out exactly what Kate is up to!

This book was such a fun read. It kept me guessing throughout. Is the seemingly perfect couple all that they seem?

Magpie is a twisty psychological thriller with an unpredictable ending. When Marisa and Jake want to make some extra income because they are going to start trying for a baby, they welcome Kate, their new lodger who's rent checks are always on time. As time goes on, Kate gets closer and closer to Jake and their family. Marisa and Jake struggle with infertility adding stress to their relationship. And Kate gets a little too close for comfort. What ensues is a well-written thriller with compelling characters and plenty of twists to keep readers interested. Highly recommended!

Thank you for the opportunity to read this novel. The subject matter was too intense for me and I was not able to finish.

Thank you Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for this advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

I have mixed feelings about this book. It started off a little slow, but picked up quickly and the twist in the middle was jaw dropping. However, everything that happened after the halfway point felt like it lead up to one of the most lackluster endings I've read in a while. I think that the big reveal in the middle of the book should have been left for the end. I kept waiting for another jaw dropper, but I didn't get it.

All in all, it was a solid concept with great writing and great characters, I just wanted more. Three stars.

It’s hard to review this without giving spoilers but I’ll just say I was intrigued during the first half and could see a very interesting domestic thriller plot playing out. However, the second half fell flat for me.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. The book drew me in from the beginning and was a fast read. Told from 2 POV - Marisa, the mom to be and Kate. A big twist that I did NOT see coming and I was on the edge of my seat at that point. However, as the story went on and the ending was a little lackluster. Overall a decent read.

A psychological thriller that had my skin crawling. Once the first reveal is made the story is a little predictable due to how characters are written.

A psychological thriller that when the twist hit I had to stop and re read to see if I actually read it right!
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Marisa and Jake are the perfect couple and Kate is the perfect boarder, but nothing is perfect. I do not want to say more than that because I was genuinely surprised by this one!
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Thank you #SimonandSchuster and #NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Unpopular opinion, so pick this book up anyway if you're thinking about it!

The only part of this book that I would really label psych thriller is the beginning (somewhat) until main twist. After that, it just seemed like a long and drawn out family drama to me. I think that I expected way more of a thriller vibe. This book just wasn't for me and I struggled through every part except for the few twisty pages. I feel like the ending was way too long and drawn out and even ended up skimming it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher! I will try this author again.

Twisty high tension, intense read. I was sucked right in from page one and didn't want to put it down. Loved the unreliable narrator it worked so well in this character driven book.

*** I have received Magpie as an ARC from NetGalley. Special thanks as well to Simon & Schuster and Elizabeth Day. As of May 3, 2022 this book is available to purchase ***

Magpie tells the story of Marisa and Jake, a presumed perfect couple but not is all as it seems The couple decide to take in a lodger to help with rent and to help prepare for their attempts to save up for a child.

When Marisa first meets Kate she welcomes her as she is the one that will help them work towards their goal of getting pregnant and starting a family. However, as Marisa struggles to conceive and Kate begins to test boundaries Marisa begins to become suspicious that something more is going on.

Paranoia sets in and Marisa begins to suspect that Jake may be having an affair with Kate. Marisa's hormones and suspicion lead her in a down spiral of trust and envy that spin out of control.

Marisa will do anything to claim what is rightfully hers and take back what belongs to her. However the story of Magpie is not as it seems.

What the reader first understands is not the truth. The point of view swiftly changes to Kate's recollection and everything the reader thought was the truth is turned around. The reader begins to question what is truth and what is fiction when it comes to the relationship of Marisa, Kate, and Jake.

Without spoiling the twists of Magpie I can say that Elizabeth Day magnificently describes the struggles and emotion that women can face when dealing with infertility, the challenges of mental illness, and the lengths a women will go to be a mother.

All I can say is Day did amazing job with the twist and turns of the points of view in Magpie. You think you have it all figured out and then it goes in another direction. The relationship between Jake's family, Jake, Kate, and Marisa is as unimaginable as much as it is relatable. Crazy to think that way but when it comes to Magpie it's true!

This is definitely a must read on my suspense reads and comes highly recommended. Until Next time, Happy Reading!

Mental illness ✔️
Infertility ✔️
Miscarriage ✔️
Family drama ✔️

This book packed a punch! It's not rated that high on GR's, so I went in with low expectations, but was pleasantly surprised!

All aboard the crazy train, this conductor just picked up a shit load of passengers!

What's up with books giving me Single White Female vibes lately?

I didn't know where this book was going. There were so many red herrings and I found myself creating many theories as to what was going to happen.

This book is told in several parts and from several unreliable narrators.

In the end, I liked the ending. I wouldn't say it had the big bang that you often see in psychological suspense, but it worked for me.

Perhaps a little drawn out in some parts, but still a hit for this gal.

Thank you @netgalley and @simonandschuster for the ARC of this book.

The central theme of this book is motherhood, not the raising of a child so much as the conceiving of one as testimony of either a woman's suitability as a life partner or, more elementally, authenticity as a woman.The narrative is divided between Marisa, the younger one, who needs to repair her own destructive childhood by becoming one of a stable marriage or at least relationship and Kate, somewhat older, who feels her career successes are not sufficient to prove her essential womanly worth.

From my review in Reviewing the Evidence::

Kate's narrative is the most compelling section in the book and it is a pity that its force is undercut by one of the most irritating conclusions I've had the misfortune to encounter lately. The problem, I think, is that Day was unable to find a way successfully to embed the issue of infertility inside the genre demands of the psychological thriller. And when convention rules, invention loses.

All the same, there is quite a lot here to satisfy. The central issue of the book is real and there is enough here to fuel a serious discussion. Just be prepared to give a regretful shrug at the finish.

Marisa and Jake have just moved into a new house and are now expecting a baby. Kate is their new lodger. Everything seems perfect. But, is everything what it seems?

Magpie started off very strong. The first part of the book was very enjoyable for me. Eager to learn more about Marisa, Jake, and Kate, I couldn't turning the pages fast enough. The second part of the book begins with a deep dive into the past and the pain of infertility. The switch in flow and pace was a little confusing. As the book nears its end, the pace picks back up. I think the ending wraps everything up a little too conveniently, but it still works.

Magpie blends infertility, motherhood, jealousy, and obsession. Overall, Magpie is an enjoyable read due to its well-developed characters and somewhat unpredictable twists. It would be a good choice for fans of dark psychological suspense novels like The Wives by Tarryn Fisher.

Rating: 3.5⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the digital copy.

Magpie was spooky and fun! I loved the descent into madness and unreliable narrator. This was a thriller but one I was able to sleep after reading. If you’re TTC this one might not be the book for you.

I didn't like the beginning of this book, and almost DNFed it. A friend told me to keep going and I'm glad I did; I really liked the middle, and overall I thought the writing was really strong. But i hated that the "plot twist" was focused on mental health. A mental health crisis is NOT a plot twist, regardless of how delicately you handle it!

I have to admit that I was intrigued to read this book because of the cover and the title. I had to read about Magpie's to learn a little more. A magpie bird is considered to be an intelligent creature with a bold personality. It can be a bit ruthless and they carry a folklore or myths of bad omens. Well, that could sum up the book in many ways but the synopsis gives an excellent description of the book without giving anything away!

The first half of the book is told from Marisa's point of view and then when Kate begins to give her point of view the story quickly ignites. Is anyone telling the truth? Who can you believe? The characters are well developed and strong. The mother in law is hot blooded and my least favorite character. The story is well written and totally kept my interest to the very end even though the ending is crazy and far fetched. Some of the twists and turns may be predictable but then Elizabeth Day gives you a new spiral to unwind.

There are some trigger warnings. This book does discuss mental health concerns and the expectation and longing for a child and the grief of infertility.

Thank you Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Jake and Marisa fall in love almost as soon as they meet. They decide to begin trying for a baby as having a family is important to them both. To help save money, they invite a lodger, Kate, to stay with them. Marisa feels that Kate is too comfortable in the house and that she is becoming much too comfortable with Jake. Is it safe to have Kate stay or is she becoming a threat to Marisa, Jake, and their future baby?

This thriller was well written and had an unexpected twist. It was difficult to tell who could be trusted as the story was told from multiple viewpoints. I really enjoyed this novel and hope to read more by the author. I can't really say much more as I don't want to give anything away.

Thank you to #NetGalley for an ARC of #Magpie by #ElizabethDay. 4 stars

I was really excited to read Magpie by Elizabeth Day. From the synopsis alone, I was intrigued.

But as I started to read the book, I started to sense a theme of different narratives. At first, I thought, this was really cool but as I got past the multiple narrative parts of the book, the story just kept weaving in and out of these same themes with different characters. It didn't enhance the story much and by the time the big reveal was presented, I was already checked out of the story.

Magpie was ok. I was into until I wasn't. It isn't a book I would run back to but I'm sure someone else might enjoy it more than me.