Unfortunately, this is a DNF for me. I was interested until I wasn't and I tried picking it back up in another format as well, but I just am finding disconnect between characters and points in the plot that made me have a hard time with this. I do like the author's writing style, so I will be checking out more from her.

This was meta, and more complex than I assumed — I had to actually pay attention in order to follow the story. Suspenseful, somewhat creepy, fun.

This book was an interesting read, one that I honestly enjoyed. The premise of Rory being Ginerva's main character and reading her book and wondering what was going on was insane. Caroline's big secret was something I did expect, which did take away from it but Max's was not something I was EVER expecting.
I loved the characters and the only issue I had with this book was occasionally how it'd swap from fast to slow pacing.
Thank you to Netgalley and Atria books for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely obsessed with this one! The cover and storyline is adorable. I have been recommending this one to all my friends now that it is out.

Disappointing. The marketing hyped it up and as a result I was more annoyed than necessary. Not Agatha Christie.

Comping this book to Agatha Christie is hugely misleading. It isn't even a question of quality (although there's definitely a huge gap there too...), but they're simply not the same genre. The Main Character isn't a whodunit at all, and it's not really much of a thriller; it's a family drama with a little murder thrown in late into the book (in the thriller vein, still not whodunit genre at all) for kicks.

It's also not exactly...good. The pacing is stultifyingly slow, the characters are bland and sound too much the same to bother with different POV chapters, and the plot is a sloppy tangle of loose threads that go absolutely nowhere, and the silliest possible solution for every thread that *does* end up mattering. The one thing I thought this book might have going for it was the setting - the glamorous train trip through Italy that is meant to put one in mind of Murder on the Orient Express - but enough isn't really made of the train aspect of it all, and somehow even that managed to be a letdown.

Stuffed with filler, meandering and tripping over its own dropped ideas, The Main Character is a miss for me.

Thank you to the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

DNF - I attempted to start this book and it just did not hold my interest. This may be a book I come back to in the future.

This was my second Jaclyn Goldis book. I really enjoyed her book "The Chateau" and I think I liked this one a little bit more. I really liked the pacing of it and the suspense kept me reading. I didn't want to put it down!

Thank you to the author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book.

This was definitely a unique mystery that keeps the reader interested. It was twisty and turny, just how we like our mysteries. There were a lot of characters in the beginning and that took some time to get used to , but it got better as the pages turned. I was pleasantly surprised by the history involved as well.

the author delivers a thrilling homage to Agatha Christie, combining mystery, suspense, and a dash of literary flair. At its core, the novel follows Rory, an unsuspecting woman who embarks on a luxury train journey along Italy's scenic Mediterranean coast—only to find that she and several other passengers have been carefully selected by the reclusive and eccentric bestselling author, Ginevra Ex. What begins as an extravagant getaway soon spirals into a complex web of lies, secrets, and twisted plots, all orchestrated by Ginevra herself.

The novel excels in its character development, particularly in how it plays with the idea of fiction versus reality. Rory, initially thrilled by the lavish trip, soon realizes that the people around her—her brother, her ex-fiancé, and her best friend—are not simply passengers, but players in a deadly game where everyone harbors their own hidden motives. Ginevra’s approach to creating her thrillers by blending real lives with fiction becomes a sharp commentary on the power of storytelling and its ability to shape truth and perception.

The plot moves briskly, with each stop along the Mediterranean coast adding layers of intrigue. The pacing is relentless, making it nearly impossible to put the book down. The tension builds as the group’s secrets begin to surface, and readers are left guessing whether the trip will end with a picturesque view or a gruesome murder—like something straight out of one of Ginevra's books.

The twisty, high-stakes nature of the plot will keep readers on the edge of their seats, but it’s the richly layered characters that truly elevate the novel. Each person feels like a carefully crafted piece of a puzzle, and as the narrative unravels, the lines between Ginevra's fiction and the passengers' real lives blur in thrilling ways.

Wowza! What a ride. The twists and turns, the secrets and mind games. Ooooh, to what end? I hope you enjoy this book as much I did.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for early access to this book. I have not had a chance to read any other books by this author, but I did enjoy this one. This thriller is fast paced, and a enjoyable read.

Thank you for the gifted copy! This was an intriguing premise that sadly fell a bit flat for me. I was let down by the conclusion, it felt like it both came out of nowhere (too convenient) and was predictable. I wasn’t a huge fan of the large historical plot components, but I understand that this may enhance the story for other readers. Great characters, intriguing premise - the execution left me disappointed.

What an unforgettable ending! Throughout the book, I thought I had all the twists figured out, but the final moments completely shifted my perspective. As someone who loves a good Italy travel story with a mystery mixed in, this book was a delight—engaging, unexpected, and full of surprises.

"The Main Character" by Jaclyn Goldis is the rare mystery that reads like a contemporary fiction book. The story is a unique idea, and while it starts out like a typical mystery, it turns into a story that spans decades and countries, drawing in a lot of historical context. It was like several stories that all came together in the end in a very surprising way! This book wasn't necessarily what I expected, but it was better than I imagined! I'm definitely looking forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book. While I did not finish the book, I do not want to persuade anyone to not read it with my review. I do not usually read mystery books and I requested this one because of the description. It sounded exciting to me, a thriller writer arranges the trip on the Orient Express for her latest main character who is surprised to find her family and friends also on the train. However, I just was not able to get through the book. I do not think it is poorly written, it is just not my cup of tea so I will leave it with an average 3 stars.

The Main Character attempts to capture the tension and intrigue of a classic thriller, but ultimately falls short in delivering a satisfying experience. The premise—a reclusive bestselling author, Ginevra Ex, who invites a group of inter-related characters on a luxurious train trip that turns out to be more sinister than it appears—has great potential. However, the execution feels heavy-handed and convoluted. The narrative, which should be filled with suspense, instead becomes weighed down by too many POVs and characters who never quite come to life. Ginevra, as the central antagonist, lacks the depth necessary to be truly compelling, while Rory, the supposed protagonist, feels more like a passive observer than an active player in her own story.

The Main Character by Jaclyn Goldis is a thriller set on the revamped Orient Express travelling through Italy. Ginerva is a famous Italian author, comparable to Agatha Christie, with an unusual writing technique. Ginerva picks a real person to use as the main character in her book, meets them, interviews them, and uses that information to write her books. Rory has just lost her job as a newcaster and is taking time to figure out how to get back on her feet. When Ginerva contacts Rory about becoming the new main character in her new book, Rory accepts the offer, thinking it will give her more time to figure out her future (and some money in the meantime).

This book was marketed as a thriller, but reads more like a family drama - and a slow paced one at that. There are a multitude of characters who are mostly boring - there is so much analyzing and inner thoughts that it was almost too much. There were a few twists thrown in, but not enough to keep my attention very long and it took me too long to get through this book. There were multiple POVs, which I usually enjoy, but the characters did not captivate me like I was hoping. The Italian setting was awesome and I loved that they were on the Orient Express and the subtle nods to Agatha Christie, but was hoping the train ride would be more.

This was my first novel by Jaclyn Goldis. While this one wasn't necessarily my cup of tea it does have some great reviews out there and I will be looking forward to trying another novel by this author.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

The Main Character by Jaclyn Goldis is a gripping, twisty thriller set on a luxurious Mediterranean cruise, where an exclusive writing retreat turns deadly. With its layered mysteries and shocking reveals, this book is perfect for fans of suspenseful whodunits!

Jaclyn Goldis penned absolute gold with this.

If you’re an Agatha Christie fan, this is a MUST READ. Setting back to the Orient Express, this new modern take on locked room mystery mixed with the horrors of the Soviet Union was multi POV magic.

When I thought I was right, I was very very wrong. 5 stars