April is dead, and "The It Girl" is the story detailing events "Before" and "After" her death. But this isn't April's story. It's Hannah's.

Hannah is the best friend and roommate whose testimony led to the conviction of a man who spent 10 years imprisoned for April's murder. Now, he has died. His death brings questions to the surface. Did he really kill April, or did Hannah get it wrong?

Ruth Ware has written a solid story littered with uncertainties, red herrings and potential suspects. I don't always understand Hannah's actions and feelings, but I've never been in her position. Plenty of books and movies are filled with characters who run into dark basements or get into cars they shouldn't.

At first, I thought the ultimate resolution was too simple. Of course, that's how it turned out! I had to admit, though, that I suspected all of our cast of characters at some point or another during the course of reading this novel. I even suspected someone who could not possibly have been involved.

If there had been no foreshadowing of whodunnit, I would have felt cheated of clues. Sure, I figured out the identity of the murderer. It only took me about a half dozen guesses. Eventually, I got there.

This review also has been shared on GoodReads and on Facebook groups: Sixties Plus Reading Room; 52 Books; Girls Who Love Books; and Books & Brews and Blanket Forts Too.

I always enjoy reading Ruth Ware's books, and The It Girl was no exception. It was a pretty hefty book, but I took to it quickly and flew through it in less than two days. The story was good, I could identify with some of the characters, and I was totally invested in the story. I didn't even mind so much that I figured out who the murderer was in the first quarter of the book because the story kept me hooked. I think the only real complaint I had was that maybe it could have been a little bit shorter. But, all in all, it was a pretty solid thriller.

I read this book in 24 hours, could not put it down!! Hannah joins a new group when she begins at Oxford, leaning into the money, the charm, and her new roommate, April. April is familiar with this particular lifestyle and loves to up the ante a bit with jokes and pranks. But has one prank gone too far? When one in the group ends up dead, there seems to be an easy explanation. But is that what really happened?

Thank you, NetGalley, for an advanced copy of this book!

Firstly, I would like to thank Netgalley for providing me with an e-arc of the book. This review is based on my personal opinion and enjoyment of the book.

*****Review in progress*****

I have loved every Ruth Ware book thus far and look forward to reviewing this one.

Ware never disappoints and this book adds to her reputation. The suspense and ominous foreboding are apparent from page one.
A group of college friends are inseparable and one of the close-knit group is murdered. The who-dun-it takes off from there. The tension keeps increasing and the reader is kept guessing figuring out the perpetrator. Exciting, as always. Great read!

I loved Ruth Ware's latest novel! I will pick up anything she writes, but I’m an absolute sucker for murder at Oxford.

This mystery centers on a crime that happened ten years ago when "it" girl April Coutts-Cliveden was killed. Her roommate, Hannah is still haunted by April's death, especially now that a reporter claims an innocent man was convicted of the crime.

This is a slow burn whodunit with all the twists and turns readers have come to expect from a Ruth Ware story.

I have been meaning to read a Ruth Ware book for a while because everyone says she's fantastic. That said, I'm often leery of authors who receive such high praise because I've been disappointed before. Lucky for me, this book was FAR from a disappointment.

The pacing was fast and kept me glued to the page nonstop. I couldn't put it down! Whenever I'd get a break at work, I'd be reading this.

Another thing that impressed me was Ware's ability to craft believably flawed characters. Hannah is likable from the very beginning. The smart girl who feels slightly out of place amongst the wealthy students at Oxford is absolutely relatable. I would venture that I relate more to this character than to any I've read lately, especially in regards to her pregnancy and feelings on motherhood. There were a couple of times I found myself thinking, "Been there, girl,' when Hannah's pregnancy symptoms would kick in.

The actual "It" girl was not so instantly likable, in my opinion, but that's what makes this thriller so intriguing. April is the murder victim, but she's far from an angelic martyr. I ended up liking April not because of her actions, but because of Hannah's loyalty to her friend.

As for the twist...yeah, Ware really got me there.

Overall, this is a great read, and I imagine it will be a huge bestseller.

I have loved Ruth wares books since I first discovered the woman in cabin 10 and this one did not disappoint!

Thrilling mystery novel written from two timelines, that was beautifully written and intertwined. It Girl didn't feel like Ruth Ware's typical captivating and gasping for breath storyline, however, I was engrossed and couldn't put it down. Finished in less 24 hours!

I've had the pleasure of reading several of Ruth Ware's novels over the years and have enjoyed most everything I've read. Her latest novel, ITGirl is something with a different feel than some of her other work. This one feels more like a mystery than a thriller and i honestly felt it was a bit longer than it needed to be. I found myself wanting to skim parts that weren't necessary to further the story. If this were 50 pages shorter, it would be a 4 star read for me. I enjoyed the book overall and that it kept you guessing what really happened until the very end. The plot was interesting, and the ending made sense to me. I would recommend this book to anyone who is a Ruth Ware fan, like myself, and to anyone who enjoys solid storytelling.

I know this one was an extremely anticipated book for a lot of people. It was pretty high on my list too. There have been a few of Ruth Ware’s that I’ve enjoyed, and honestly, this one is probably my least favorite of hers so far.


When I first saw the synopsis, I’ll fully admit, I was nervous because it sounded a lot like In My Dreams I Hold A Knife. And that’s one of my favorites. While there were a few similarities, the plot seemed to go in a different direction, which I was happy about. However, the pacing was a little too slow for me. I need my thrillers to be action packed and fast moving and this wasn’t it. Even though this wasn’t 100% for me, I know others will really enjoy it! 3.5 ⭐️ (Rounded down to 3 for Netgalley & Goodreads)

A huge thank you to Netgalley, Gallery Books, and Ruth Ware for this e-arc. Check out The It Girl on it’s pub date 7/12!

I absolutely loved this book! It gave me major fall vibes and I actually felt like I was on campus with the characters. The writing made me remember how it felt to be in college/ want to fit in. I also loved how it went back and forth between the “before” and the “after.” The story and timeline were both very well done. It was the perfect rainy day read and it kind of reminded me of Pretty Little Liars, but with older characters and a more complex story. Overall, this was a really good murder mystery/thriller. I LOVED all of the twists and I’m so glad I got the chance to read it.

April Coutts-Cliveden was the "it girl", the one on campus that everyone gravitated towards and wanted to be in company with... even though she wasn't the nicest of people. Coming from a wealthy home the girl never wanted for anything and always got whatever her little heart desired, and that rubbed some on campus the wrong way. But not Hannah, the moment the two met they became fast friends. They did everything together, even crushed on the same boy.

But one night their friendship came to devastating end as Hannah found April murdered in her room. One of their fellow classmates was found guilty of said murder and sent to prison. Now ten years have passed since that horrible night and Hannah has moved on and created a quiet and comfortable life for herself, one she always dreamt of having. But that perfect life of hers is about to hit a little snag as she finds a journalist on her doorstep with new details about the murder. Details that make her question everything about the friends she had back then!

Straight out the gate this one grabbed a hold of me and wouldn't let go... it's words utterly mesmerizing and leaving me filled with so many unanswered questions. It was impossible to put this one down without first knowing every last detail, which lead to me flipping the pages well past my bedtime. And I might add that it was well worth the loss of sleep. From beginning to end this one had me second guessing myself and the words before me... it's quite the thrilling whodunnit! Highly recommend you get your hands on this one, it's words will have you hooked at first glance!

I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher, via NetGalley request, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest and unbiased opinion.

This was a little slow for me, but the ending totally made it worth it. I found I had to go back and reread some of the bits at the beginning.

This is now my fourth Ruth Ware book and I think it’s my least favorite. I know, starting with some *spice* but let me be clear, I in no way hated this book. I liked it! But it hangs in a very solid -fine- category for me.

In some ways, this didn’t really feel like a Ruth Ware. The pacing was very slow for me and the gripping tension I’ve come to expect from her books seemed absent until about the halfway point, and then disappeared again just when I wanted it most.

Where this book really became a 3 star for me though was the ending. The twist didn’t take me off guard and then it just…settled into a puddle of meh. The killer also took a turn into a comic-book villain for me. A little too over the top.

However, allllll that being said, I still had a fun time reading this! I really liked the characters — particular Hannah and Will (romance reader always and forever) — and the nuances of their relationships. And, of course, the writing was superb, and even if the plot didn’t have me scrambling to turn the pages, the characters kept me engaged.

I can for sure see plenty of people loving this one, so I do recommend it. ESPECIALLY if you’re a stan for the boarding school murder trope. A bit of a disappointment for me though.

re you like me and will always want to read whatever Ruth Ware writes? I just see her name (along with authors Riley Sager, Peter Swanson, Alice Feeny, Megan Miranda, Julie Clark etc) and just know I have to read whatever it is she writes.

Her latest is called The It Girl. When Hannah heads to Oxford, she falls under the spell of her glamorous roommate, April who seems to be everything Hannah is not. The two of them quickly develop a close circle of friends. And then April is found dead. This sends shock waves through their friend circle that will last for years, well into Hannah’s adult life when she is happily married. And when the man accused of April’s murder dies in prison, old wounds are opened and Hannah reconsiders the idea that the man accused could actually be innocent, so then who really killed April? And why?

Here’s the official synopsis:

April Coutts-Cliveden was the first person Hannah Jones met at Oxford. Vivacious, bright, occasionally vicious, and the ultimate It girl, she quickly pulled Hannah into her dazzling orbit. Together, they developed a group of devoted and inseparable friends—Will, Hugh, Ryan, and Emily—during their first term. By the end of the second, April was dead.

Now, a decade later, Hannah and Will are expecting their first child, and the man convicted of killing April, former Oxford porter John Neville, has died in prison. Relieved to have finally put the past behind her, Hannah’s world is rocked when a young journalist comes knocking and presents new evidence that Neville may have been innocent. As Hannah reconnects with old friends and delves deeper into the mystery of April’s death, she realizes that the friends she thought she knew all have something to hide…including a murder.

I liked this book and was entertained by the story. It wasn’t an OMG THIS IS AMAZING kind of read, as some of Ruth’s other books, and I kind of figured out the plot twist, but I thought this was a solid read and recommend it to those who love a good suspense story!

Out in July!

Ware continues to impress readers with her cleverly plotted mysteries. This latest is set on the hallowed grounds of Oxford. Hannah is a new student of modest means paired up with April, a roommate who is rich, beautiful and mesmerizing. When April is murdered, Hannah's eyewitness testimony convicts a creepy porter at the college, but after many years he has always maintained his innocence. Could Hannah really have been mistaken? What would be the harm in investigating to settle her doubts. The clues are all present but Ware keeps us guessing and then in the spirit of Agatha Christie reveals what we have missed.

Another awesome read by Ruth Ware! Her books keep getting better and better. I was expecting suspense, mystery and a good storyline and Ware delivered on all three.

Ruth Ware does it again! Every book of hers satisfies my criteria for a satisfying mystery! The It Girl is just another example—suspense (check), interesting setting (check--especially as I wasn’t aware of the different colleges within Oxford), twists and turns (check), and fast paced storyline (check). In this book, Ware uses a dual timeline flipping between Oxford and Edinburgh to move the story along. Numerous instances in the earlier timeline at Oxford made me feel like I was right back in college myself—the camaraderie of friends, pursuit of study, and wild times exploring identity. The exception to my college experience was the magical Pelham/Oxford setting in this book. This educational institute, with its porters and pristine grasses, provides the perfect setting for a heinous crime to be committed—murder by strangulation. A group of six friends is suddenly now five and they will never be the same again.

In the “After” timeline in Edinburgh, the murder is brought to the forefront of life once again when the alleged murderer dies in prison. An investigative journalist, who was recently interviewing the murderer, follows up on the allegations that he was innocent. And suddenly all five friends are reacquainted under unwelcome circumstances. We come to see the effects that the murder has had on all of them through the years, but the story really centers on Hannah. Hannah’s testimony was the clutch evidence that put the murderer behind bars. Unwilling to have a guilty conscience knowing that she possibly put an innocent man in jail, Hannah becomes the driving force in trying to find out the truth…what really occurred that one fateful night at Pelham?!?!

4 stars for a great read! Special thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Back when I first started reviewing books online in 2016, I landed a copy of what unbeknownst to me was going to be one of my all-time favorite thrillers, In A Dark Dark Wood by Ruth Ware. Ruth Ware quickly became one of my favorite authors and I have loved every book she has written. Needless to say, The It Girl is one of my most anticipated reads of 2022 and I found myself jumping for joy when I was approved for a review copy!

On her first day at Oxford Hannah Jones meets her new roommate April Coutts-Cliveden the ultimate ‘it girl’. Hannah who comes from a humble working-class background meets April who comes from a very wealthy family. April pulls Hannah into her world and introduces her to her group of friends, Will, Hugh, Ryan, and Emily. But by the second term at Oxford, April was dead.

A decade later Hannah and Will are expecting their first child together when the man convicted of killing April, John Neville a former porter at Oxford, is found dead. A journalist investigating the case discovers new evidence in April’s murder that indicates Neville may be innocent.

Told from Hannah’s point of view alternating between the past and present.

I'm going to be brief with my review because this is one of those that's very hard to discuss without giving too much away!
First I want to discuss the things I liked about this one. I loved the cleverly planted red herrings in this one. Guessing the whodunit was the fun part of this one. At one point or another, I had the crime pinned on every single character. When the perp was revealed, I was very surprised, my guesses were way off. I also enjoyed the suspense and tension-building parts of this story towards the end.

Even though I did enjoy this one, I felt as if it was too long and drawn out. At a few points it felt too repetitious, about half of it could be removed and it would make a much more exciting and interesting story. I just know that mystery fans and fans of Ruth Ware will love this one! I cannot wait to recommend this one to my fellow readers!

The It Girl will be available on July 12! Many thanks to Netgalley and Gallery/Scout Press for the arc in exchange for an honest review.