I read The It Girl, by Ruth Ware, on a flight recently. Thanks to @gallerybooks for my gifted copy!

I’ve read a few great thrillers recently, so my expectations were high for this book. However, The It Girl ultimately fell short. It had such great potential (reminding me of In My Dream I Hold a Knife with the elite college setting and close group of friends), but it was very predictable, and didn’t hold my attention well on this flight.

A bit longer than needed but a good thriller. The quest for the truth on who murdered the campus it girl has the stereotypes of college life. Ware is a master at the twist and she doesn't disappoint in this narrative. Some hokey moments, but there is an explanation that suits the storyline in most cases. Easy to sympathize with the main character and sleuth. A good beach read with a little drag in places.

Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley

An academic thriller that will engross you in no time!

The book is based at Oxford University where you will follow Hannah, her new friend April and their close knit group of friends, Will, Hugh, Ryan and Emily. April is the life of the party, the “it girl” and Hannah quickly finds herself in her orbit. The party comes to an end when April is found dead. Fast forward to ten years later and Hannah still lives with the horror of April’s death. She is married to Will and they are expecting their first child when the convicted killer, former Oxford porter John Neville, dies in prison. After meeting with a journalist April begins questioning if the porter was the actual killer and if not is it someone close to her.

While the book is plot driven the character development was excellent. If you are looking for a solid thriller, The It Girl, is it! This well written, gripping novel is perfect for your summer reading list (available 7/12/22).

Thank you to @netgalley and @scoutpressbooks for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Hannah and April, who are complete opposites, become fast friends after learning they will be sharing a suite at Oxford. They quickly become friends with Emily, Hugh, Ryan and Will, as they spend most of their nights partying together. By the end of their first year, April-the It Girl-will be found murdered and Hannah will the one to put a possibly innocent man behind bars.
The chapters alternate between the ‘before’ and ‘after’ and are both told from Hannah’s perspective. I loved the how the Oxford setting added a bit more creepiness to the overall mystery and how the author was able to make me suspicious of every character at some point. This was long-more than 400 pages-but it read quickly and I thought the ending was good, yet not surprising. Releases July 12, 2022.

Unfortunately, I have been unable to get into Ware's recent books. This one definitely intrigued me as I am always a fan of the academic setting and the non linear timeline. But I only made it to about 35% before calling it quits. I just could not stick with it and had no drive to pick it up.

Ruth Ware the Queen of psychological thrillers does it again with another can't put down "who dunit" book. Although this book was very good, it did seem to be a little too long and dragged on in some chapters - but otherwise another great book.

I’ll be honest… Ruth Ware is hit or miss for me but this one hit home! It’s officially my new favorite from her and I’m so pleased with how her storytelling has grown. The plot has many elements I love: the untimely death of an “it” girl, dark academia, lovers brought together by tragedy, and of course a convicted killer who just maybe wasn’t guilty after all. Told during two timelines, the story covers the events leading up the murder of Hannah’s roommate as well as Hannah’s quest to uncover the truth ten years later. The pace never lagged as there were plenty of clues to unpack along the way. I was pleased to discover that my suspicions were ultimately very wrong. I won’t be forgetting this one and I highly recommend it for anyone looking for quick and mysterious summer read. A huge thank you to Gallery/Scout Press and NetGalley for providing me with an e-galley!

Thank you #NetGalley and #ScoutPress for allowing me an ARC for my honest review of Ruth Ware’s The It Girl. I am a fan of Ruth Ware and have enjoyed her other books. I was was excited to receive “IT GIRL”. This book does not disappoint. It started a little slow and end in a page turner. I liked the dual timeline. Before takes place in prestige Oxford Pelham College. Hannah is middle class and public school. Her roommate, April, is private school, rich, and has it all. The Looks, witty, high self-esteem. . .. She’s the It Girl. April introduces Hannah to her circle of friends. These chapters are spent building the characters during and prior to Oxford Pelham College. Friendships are also developing in groups and in pairs. Everything is going better than Hannah ever dreamt. She doesn’t miss home. College and her roommate have turned a new leaf for her. Then April is murdered. Hannah is the key witness. After - takes place ten years after Aprils murder and how the past has haunted the lives of her college friends. The man sent to prison for Aprils murder dies while in jail. He has fought his innocence for ten years. A journalist vowed to find the truth. . . .I thought I had the mystery figured out early in the book and stuck with my idea in middle and end. WOW!!!

Having skipped over Ware’s last book, the blurb for this one called out to me. I’m a sucker for a back and forth questionable memory mystery. I also love Oxford, so that was another plus. While I don’t think that Ruth Ware is trodding on new ground with this one, I still enjoyed it. It was a fast read with a narrator that I actually liked. While it wasn’t as fun for me as “The Death of Mrs. Westaway,” I’ll definitely be suggesting this to patrons as it was a quick, fun summer read.

This book had a slow start & I thought I had the murderer figured out by 20%— but oh was I WRONG. And by the last 20% I couldn’t put it down.

I enjoyed Ruth Ware’s writing style & duel timelines. The characters were believable & easy to picture. I actually just returned from a trip to Scotland & appreciated that I recognized many of the places referenced!

Thank you Scout Press & Net Galley for allowing me an ARC.

Ruth Ware’s one of those authors who as soon as I see she has a book coming out - I immediately add it to my wishlist to grab ASAP. She wrote the best sellers, The Woman in Cabin 10, One by One and The Lying Game. She’s had some hits, as well as some misses - but when I saw the premise for It Girl, I knew I had to grab it. This one did not miss as it follows a group of former besties in college + the aftermath of a murder mystery.

The It Girl was a good twisty read that I liked. It wasn’t my favorite Ruth Ware novel, but it’s in my top 3.

Ruth Ware NEVER disappoints! This book started off a little slow but once the duel timelines picked up, I was sucked in to the story. Ruth Ware knows how to write characters and subplots in such an exciting way that you are constantly left on your toes and guessing. I had no idea under the very end. But Ruth Ware wrapped up the book in a thrilling and satisfying way that ended with such a bang!

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book early! It had a slower start, but provided some important background information. I love the writing style of switching to before and after. I really thought I had it all figured it out, and loved the twists and turns the last 25% of the book that made it impossible to put down as my theories were proved wrong.

This is a solid thriller. I liked the academic setting and two timelines. I also thought the characters were interesting. However, it’s on the slow side and not one I am likely to think about much after finishing.

Ruth Ware doesn't miss! "It Girl" is yet another shining example of Ware's writing prowess.

Hannah Jones is blissfully married and pregnant with her first child. This should be the happiest chapter of her life, but she is constantly haunted by the memories of her college friend and roommate April Clarke-Cliveden. More specifically, she's haunted by her murder.

When Hannah learns that her alleged murderer has died in prison protesting his innocence, she feels the need to delve back into the memories of their time together in order to find out what really happened. Despite her husband Will's pleading to let it go, Hannah reconnects with old friends Emily, Hugh, and Ryan to find out anything they know... or have been hiding. Along the way, she begins losing faith in those she held closest, including Will, who used to be April's college boyfriend.

This story is completely unpredictable from start to finish. Never quite sure who to trust or believe, Ruth Ware has ensured that readers are kept on the edge of their seats until the final page.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this book in exchange for my honest review.

Hannah Jones, the product of middle class and, public schools, arrives at Oxford's Pelham College naive and inexperienced. Her roommate April is completely opposite....rich, witty, stylish, fun loving...the ultimate "It Girl" who seemingly has everything. She introduces Hannah to her circle of friends and opens a whole new world. for Hannah. Yet by the end of second term April is dead. Ten years on Hannah is married to April's boyfriend Will and expecting their first child. When John Neville the man convicted of April's murder dies in prison doubts that Hannah repressed rise to the surface and haunt her.. She begins to reconnect with their close circle digging into the past with unforeseen dangerous consequences. Dark academia is one of my favorite sub genres and well known Ware adds a gripping psychological thriller to her growing shelf of winners. As the pages turn we come to know April as a not so good a friend at times vicious and cruel. The personalities of their circle of friends are distinctive and realistic. The dramatic riveting conclusion packs a whallop.

I’m a huge Ruth ware fan and I really liked this book. She always manages to make her characters interesting and engaging and I never see the end coming.

What happens when you thought happened ten years ago in college continues to haunt your present life. Hannah was a bright Oxford scholar until she discovered the body of the “it girl” for best friend and suite mate April. Read the latest Ruth Ware thrill to find out, you won’t put the book down.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC. Hannah Jones is a first year student at Oxford in England and she’s delighted to be roommates with wealthy April Coutts-Cliveden. The two soon fall in with a small group and become fast friends. Each chapter is divided into two parts - then and now. The events at college are contrasted with Hannah’s life ten years later as she tries to bring closure to the traumatic night when she finds April brutally murdered. Ruth Ware is a master of this genre of thrillers and she’s skilled at setting out red herrings.