Ruth Ware is always good! This was dark academia, suspenseful with good characters. I wanted to keep reading and see what happens. Would definitely recommend. Thank you to Netgally and the publisher for the opportunity.

I LOVE dark academia. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this story in exchange for an honest review. I am currently working through my ARC backlog and will be posting full reviews momentarily for books that have been completed!

Another suspenseful thriller from Ruth Ware. The It Girl is engaging, exciting, and entertaining. Includes some edge of your seat moments. I wouldn’t say it’s the author’s best, but definitely worth a read if you’ve enjoyed her other works.

The It Girl by Ruth Ware is a slow-burn mystery about a woman named Hannah, who starts questioning what really happened when her college roommate, April, was murdered ten years ago. The story jumps between past and present, which keeps things interesting and builds suspense. The Oxford gives an eerie feel, and the mystery kept me guessing. Some parts in the middle felt a bit slow, and a few characters could’ve been more developed, but the twist at the end was worth it. If you like murder mysteries with a dark, academic vibe, this one’s a good pick. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Unfortunately this was a DNF for me. I usually enjoy books with multiple timelines but the way this one jumped back and forth from the past to present just didn’t hook me. I wasn’t invested enough in the characters to care about what was going to happen. Just not for me.

A well-done take on the classic college campus murder mystery. It has all the hallmarks you'd expect from this kind of story—a tight-knit group of friends with plenty of secrets, jealousy, betrayal, and scandal woven throughout. The only thing that held it back from being a perfect read for me was the limited role academia actually played. Oxford mostly serves as a backdrop and a reason for the characters to cross paths, rather than a meaningful part of the plot. So if you’re hoping for a true dark academia vibe, this might fall short. It’s still a gripping read with an engaging cast and a twisty, satisfying “whodunnit.”

I've read almost everything Ruth Ware has written, so I was excited to read The It Girl...and it did not disappoint! The characters were interesting, and I liked that the story went back and forth between the past and present. I was invested in finding out what really happened to April, and I was surprised when the truth was revealed. The It Girl was a great read, and I'm excited to see what this author comes up with next. : )

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

5 STARS

The It Girl was a total thrill ride from start to finish—I couldn't put it down. The suspense kept building with just the right amount of tension, and while I saw a few twists coming, others completely caught me off guard in the best way. If you love stories that keep you guessing (and second-guessing), this one definitely delivers!

This is my favorite of Ruth Ware’s novels so far. I found the heroine likable, and I enjoyed both the present day portions and the flashback sequences, which isn’t always easy to pull off. A really satisfying thriller with a great campus setting, for readers looking for a little dark academia flavor.

Loved the academic setting and the before/ after telling of this mystery, ten years after the death of her college roommate and it girl, Hannah is confused that her testimony apparently convicted the wrong man. Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for a copy for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

While the story kept me engaged, it lacked the twists I’ve come to expect from this author. The back-and-forth timeline worked well, but the book felt overly long with too much repetition. Hannah’s emotions were over-explored to the point of slowing the plot, and the pregnancy drama felt forced rather than impactful. Some of April’s actions were a bit over-the-top, and the control she held over others felt juvenile.

Overall, it wasn’t a bad read, but it didn’t quite deliver the suspense or surprises I was hoping for.

I'm a huge Ruth Ware fan and this book was no exception! A thrilling dark academia with well-developed characters, lots of suspense!

I will read anything Ruth Ware writes and this book shows why. When April died at college, her friends' lives changed. Someone was arrested but now is dead in prison. A journalist comes to visit and drops a bomb, he doesn't think the convicted man was the killer. What secrets are the friends hiding? Was one of them, the actual murderer?

Excellent mystery. I loved the premise and the surprises throughout. Great character building and plot development.

The It Girl by Ruth Ware is a solid psychological thriller, though it falls short of being truly gripping. The story revolves around Hannah, who, 10 years after her Oxford roommate April’s murder, begins to question whether her testimony put the wrong man behind bars. The novel alternates between past and present, unraveling university life, friendships, and Hannah’s growing doubts about what really happened.

While the mystery kept me intrigued, the pacing dragged, especially in the middle, with Hannah's constant second-guessing and repetitive thoughts. It felt longer than necessary, but the suspenseful ending made the slow build-up worth it. Overall, it's a well-written but somewhat overextended thriller. 3.5 stars rounded down.

The It Girl follows the story of Hannah as she attempts to make sense of her best friend's murder ten years earlier. After the death of the man who was convicted of the crime, Hannah begins to have questions about whether or not the murder took place in the way that she thought it did. The book rotates between the present and the past as Hannah tries to figure out what happened. The book was enjoyable but I found the ending to be predictable.

A decade after her best friend and college roommate is murdered, Hannah finds herself thrust back into the mystery and whether she played a role in convicting an innocent man for the crime. While reconnecting with her friends from that time in her life she questions what she thought she knew about that time and those involved.

Absolutely loved, as I do with all Ruth Ware books. She's the modern day Agatha Christie, and I always find myself wanting more!

The It Girl by Ruth Ware is a perfect fit for readers who crave a thrilling and suspenseful mystery that delves into the dark secrets and hidden truths of a group of friends, exploring themes of murder, college, and the complexities of relationships, making it a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and whodunits.

Another fantastic page-turner from Ruth Ware! And of course I stayed up much too late in order to finish this book.

The story is set at Oxford University (England). Shy Hannah is paired with wealthy and beautiful April as a roommate -- the "It Girl." She is immediately immersed with April's friend group of Will, Hugh, Ryan and Emily, and they spend all their time with each other. It's not a spoiler to reveal that April dies before the end of their first year at Oxford, and Hannah's testimony is instrumental in convicting the killer. Fast forward 10 years and Hannah is married to Will and expecting their first child. New evidence is uncovered which causes Hannah to seriously doubt what she saw. Thus begins her quest to determine the truth about April's death.

I loved the sense of time and place that this book conveys -- Oxford, college days, academia, friendships. The chapters alternate between "Before" and "After", and typically I don't like non-linear storytelling, but it really works here. I was kept guessing throughout the book and read it in just a couple of days. A solid 4 star thriller; highly recommended!

Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books/Scout Press for an advanced reader copy of this title!

Read more of my reviews at https://thegoodreader13.blogspot.com/.