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Member Reviews

This book is the book version of the Truman Project. Author Ginevra manipulates the characters in the manner of her choosing for the entertainment of her readers. Rather than writing the main character's reactions, she's watching them in real life and then writing about them. The plot itself is sick and twisted, an episode of Criminal Minds waiting to be written. This is the ultimate psychological thriller.

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Thank you to NetGalley, the Publishers, and Jaclyn Goldis for an ARC of The Main Character! The synopsis really pulled me into this one. I felt like I didn’t really connect to the characters, but I did enjoy the storyline. This book had multiple POV’s and at some points I forgot whose chapter I was on. I really did enjoy the twists at the end (the story came together more at that point that made it exciting) which earned it an extra star. Ginevra is a best selling author and pays for an all expense paid trip for Rory for being the main character of her newest book. Rory believes this is a trip at the end of her term being the main character, but what she doesn’t know is her best friend, brother, and ex-fiancé are also on the Orient Express with her. What she thinks is going to be a peaceful trip is anything but when everything starts falling apart - secrets, deception, lies - this is anything but a normal vacation. It’s up to Rory to figure out what is going on before something can’t be undone.

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I received this ARC and I was so happy because I loved the Chateau. However this did fall a little flat for me. I enjoyed it I was just wanting for more in the end. I am still grateful to have gotten this ARC . Thanks so much !

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Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book. I enjoyed the author’s debut, the Chateau, but unfortunately Main Character was a miss on most levels for me. I generally find that multi POV novels that move in a linear timeline don’t work well for truly building suspense and oftentimes feel like a lazy way to move the story forward - this is what I felt in this case - it was just too cluttered with narrators. The book had a good premise and a promising setting, but the execution wasn’t there for me. Despite the many points of view most of the characters weren’t well developed and the mystery factor wasn’t high enough to distract from the one dimensional characters.

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Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the copy of The Main Character by Jaclyn Goldis. It took me a while to get into the story but when I finally did, it was a clever one. The writing style made it hard for me to stay engaged though, and the random discrepancies didn’t help. (The group has copies of an unreleased book by one of the world's most successful writers, leaves them unattended on their beach chairs, and are shocked when they are stolen.) I was attracted to a “modern homage to Agatha Christie” but the only thing that evoked Christie's work was the Orient Express so as a long-time Agatha Christie reader I felt let down. It’s not bad as a mystery goes, it just didn’t give Agatha Christie vibes.

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The Main Character, by Jaclyn Goldis, started out a bit slow, but I stuck with it. While it never became a fast-paced page-turner, it was a fun, engaging, though a bit predictable, read.
Thanks, NetGalley and the publisher, for providing me with the ARC ebook I read and reviewed. All opinions are my own.

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Melodramatic, and I wasn't a fan of the writing style. Everyone's hiding a secret, but I didn't care enough about the characters, who we were supposed to like because they're your standard, judgmental, everday Midwest suburban-raised people in their mid- to late twenties. But whom I didn't like because they're judgmental, entitled people who have succeeded in spite of their shortcomings, and who will be fine because life is unfair. Read this if you're a plot person, or want an excuse to drink.

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Fun story with interesting characters. You'll find many helpful reviews already posted. Recommended.

Thanks very much for the free copy for review!!

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The Main Character offers up a mystery at a leisurely vacation pace such as one would experience on a cross country train ride. Multiple characters being led like puppets by an older woman, one of the world's most successful writers, Ginerva Ex, who has footed the bill for the four connected passengers. Clues are parsed out slowly and it isn't until the last quarter of the book that things really start to unfold.
What is at stake - friendships, romantic relationships, familial secrets, and of course, a bestseller. And, maybe even a life.

Thank you to Atria/Emily Bestler Books and Netgalley for access to an early e-copy. All opinions are my own.

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Jaclyn Goldis delivers a riveting homage to Agatha Christie with "The Main Character," a modern thriller that pulses with tension and suspense from start to finish. Set aboard the famed Orient Express on a luxurious trip along Italy's Mediterranean coast, this electrifying tale of deception and betrayal keeps readers guessing until the very end.

At the center of the story is reclusive author Ginevra Ex, known for her unorthodox approach to crafting bestselling thrillers. When she presents her latest main character, Rory, with an extravagant bonus in the form of a lavish trip on the Orient Express, Rory is thrilled—until she discovers that her brother, best friend, and ex-fiancé are also passengers, all invited by Ginevra herself.

As the journey unfolds, it becomes increasingly clear that Ginevra has orchestrated a real-life plot with Rory at its center. With each stop along the way, tensions rise and secrets surface, leading Rory to fear that the trip will end in tragedy, just like one of Ginevra's novels.

Goldis's writing is stylish and compulsively readable, drawing readers into a web of intrigue and deception that mirrors the twists and turns of a classic Christie mystery. As Rory untangles the motives behind Ginevra's machinations, she must confront the shocking truth about her companions and the deadly end to which Ginevra's plot may lead.

In conclusion, "The Main Character" is a gripping and atmospheric thriller that will captivate fans of Ruth Ware, Lucy Foley, and Paula Hawkins. With its intricate plotting, well-drawn characters, and pulse-pounding suspense, Jaclyn Goldis has crafted a modern masterpiece that will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the final, shocking reveal.

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This was really quite good. A little Agatha Christie-ish (what with the luxurious train setting and all) with lots of secrets, lies and manipulations. Everyone is under suspicion as strange events unfold until the ultimate finale is reached. There is quite a complex backstory to be uncovered and it was just fun and engaging.

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his was such an interesting read and an homage to Murder on the Orient Express. Rory is the next main character Ginerva Ex picked for her latest murder mystery book and as a bonus Rory is treated to a 3-day train ride on the newly renovated Orient Express. When she gets on the train she is met with her ex-boyfriend Nate, her best friend Caroline and her brother Max also Ginervas lawyer is present who gives everyone an ARC of the new book for everyone to read. Unbeknownst to Rory everyone has secrets they are trying to keep under wraps which unravel as the train chugs along until disaster strikes and someone is dead. This was a very twisty mystery and while the ending was very abrupt it was still interesting even if it was not what I was expecting. This was a great fast read.

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Thank you @atriabooks @netgalley #partner for the gifted eARC!!

All aboard this choo choo train! Geneva is a famous author who has become well known for the unique way she goes about writing her books. She meets real people and asks questions, almost like an interview and then turns them into main characters in her books. The most recent “main character” is offered a free trip on a train in the Mediterranean. What is better than that?! When she arrives she realizes many of these characters look familiar too her and it’s not a coincidence. Her brother, best friend and ex-finance all have joined her. So what does Ginerva have up her sleeve? As time passes these passengers understand there is more at play and Ginerva has created a game similar to chess. Slow and methodical. Soon all the clues are uncovered and a shocking end is revealed!

Thoughts: I was excited to grab this one as I really enjoyed The Chateau last year. I was delightfully impressed with this slow burn mystery that is very heavy in the characters development. I am a sucker for locker room mysteries and so being on a twin definitely checked that box. I found parts of this story a little slow but I enjoyed ultimately how this story unfolded and the twist at the end. The ending tugged at my heartstrings a bit as it uncovers a “what if” and “lost time” scenario. Those details in books always make me wonder if one small change happened how could it have ended up? Overall I enjoyed this mystery and will look forward to what Jaclyn writes next.

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The Main Character is a twisty thriller with plenty of shocking turns I didn't see coming. The final few twists were some of the most jaw-dropping ones I've ever read. If you enjoy thrillers but hate when they come with unlikeable characters, I think you'll enjoy The Main Character. While there are a couple of unlikeable side characters, I liked Rory and most of the other characters.

It's impossible to talk about The Main Character without talking about its setting. Italy is a huge focus of this novel, which I absolutely adored. I loved seeing so much of Italy, and seeing it on and off the Orient Express was a huge treat. If you enjoy atmospheric settings, you need this book on your shelf. This would be the ultimate beach read, but it would also be a great read for a rainy day or any day you want to escape to sunny Europe.

The Main Character wasn't a perfect novel, but it was enjoyable. It's a great read if you enjoy mysteries and books about books. I didn't rate it five stars, but I think it's a well-written mystery and recommend it.

Thanks to Atria/Emily Bestler Books for providing me with an arc!

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DNF at 37% - The story was a bit slow for me and I didn’t feel engaged or dying to know what happened next. Not a hit for me, but not every book is for every person!

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Ginevra Ex is an author who uses real people and their life stories for her books. Her newest character, Rory, sends her on a train trip to end their time and interviews together. Rory doesn't know that Ginevra has also sent her brother, best friend, and ex on the same trip with her. With each stop on the trip, conversations are had that leads Rory to believe Ginevra has some secrets up her sleeve.

This mystery is an homage to Agatha Christie. It's a fun read.

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If you like Christie novels & Hitchcock films but modern, this the book you….and me! I loved the idea of a modern day Orient Express trip. Add in the incredibly unique idea of an author using real people’s lives to create fictional works, makes this is a very enjoyable read. It isn’t a Christie-esque murder mystery though, more of a secrets being revealed type thriller. It’s a perfect summer read, with all the rich descriptions of the trip, Italy & the train. It’s glamorous escapism. The chapters are from the different characters perspectives & one of the issues I had is that the voices aren’t very distinct, they all read the same for me. But as the secrets are revealed, it definitely kept my attention.

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I thought this novel was very interesting and while it did keep my attention, I felt it was more of a mellow pace for me. This book gave me Agatha Christie vibes with similar mystery plots. This would be great for those that like a good mystery novel.

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Don’t get me wrong, 3 stars and up for me is a good sign. This book however, is at the lower end of 3 stars. Not a terrible read, but it was long.

The story is original, which is a plus. However, I do feel like the mystery aspect wasn’t really fully developed.
Not a bad read, but not “I can’t put this book down”

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Twisting, turning and dramatic with a capital D, The Main Character will hold you in suspense while you try to unravel the tangled, tension-filled web spun between key players in this story. Jaclyn Goldis has delivered an absorbing Agatha Christie-esque tale that propels readers forward with a desperate need for answers.

Bestselling author Ginevra Ex takes the unusual approach of hiring real people, interviewing them and their family/friends, and then fictionalizing them for her books. Her latest main character is Rory, a former news anchor from the United States who is thrilled with the opportunity that comes along with a generous bonus and a trip along Italy’s coast on the newly renovated Orient Express. Once she boards the train, she’s shocked to find her brother, best friend and ex-fiancé are also along for the ride. And as the voyage commences, it’s clear there’s an ulterior motive for Ginevra inviting these individuals. Which induces Rory to conduct an investigation. Leading to uncovering life-altering secrets. Some of which are worth killing for.

Having the storyline revolve around an author using real people as subjects for a fiction novel is fresh, creative and unique. But on its own that isn’t enough to make a compelling novel. Thankfully, The Main Character includes interesting characters with secrets they do not want to come to light, adding a big dose of intrigue and conflict, fed to readers with a slow drip until it explodes with action, violence and clarity that satisfyingly resolves every open question. Resulting in a book that hooks readers early and takes them on an intense journey of lies, betrayal, and murder.

If you like a good reality TV drama, then Jaclyn Goldis has gifted you a book squarely in your wheelhouse. But even if that’s not your thing, The Main Character serves up enough intrigue, mystery and charm to entertain any mystery fan looking for a good story.

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