What do you expect or want from a book before you start reading ?

I want to be kept on my toes in anticipation of what will happen next.

I want that can’t stop won’t stop feeling when I know I should really only read just “one more chapter”

And ultimately I want characters who feel real and relative .

Well…

Check ✔️
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This book checks off every box on my list for what I believe is a soon to be bestseller .

I was consumed early on and didn’t want to put this book down for even a bathroom break.

This was my first by Jaclyn Goldis, but it won’t be my last ! Due out 5/21/2024!!! You don’t want to miss this one!

The Main Character

Teaser :

Reclusive, mysterious author Ginevra Ex is famous for her unusual approach to crafting her big bestselling thrillers: she hires real people and conducts intensive interviews, then fictionalizes them. Her latest main character, Rory, is thrilled when Ginevra presents her with an extravagant bonus—a lavish trip along Italy’s Mediterranean coast on the famed, newly renovated Orient Express. But when Rory boards the train, she’s stunned to discover that her brother, her best friend, and even her ex-fiancé are passengers, as well. All invited by Ginevra, all hiding secrets.

With each stop, from Cinque Terre to Rome to Positano, it becomes increasingly clear that Ginevra has masterminded the ultimate real life twisty plot with Rory as her main character. And as Ginevra’s deceptions mount, and the lies and machinations of Rory’s travel companions pile up, Rory begins to fear that her trip will culminate like one of Ginevra’s books: with a murder or two. In the opulent compartments of the iconic train, Rory must untangle the shocking reasons why Ginevra wanted them all aboard—and to what deadly end.

The Main Character started out strong for me, but about halfway through I began to lose interest. The plot was easy to figure out, albeit at times unrealistic, and the ending was flat and predictable. That being said, I did enjoy the characters and at times could really see the setting for myself through the authors descriptions. So while this story didn't wow me, it was an okay read if you are looking for something to fill your time.

I was not crazy about this book, the characters, or plot. The plot itself was a bit incredulous to believe. A woman agrees to be the subject of an author's latest novel steps aboard a train and soon finds her ex-boyfriend, friends and family also on this train. It made no sense that they would agree to board the train. There was really nothing in it for them. Some of the characters, I questioned what their purpose was to the overall development of the story. The book also had lots of stereotypes and an extensive amount of Jewish history. I understand that telling the story of Rory's father was close to the author's heart with adding experiences of her on family, but with everything that is going on in Gaza, it was hard for me to follow the back story especially when so many innocent children and families are being oppressed and murdered in Gaza. Also, the events that took place with the main character and her brother, I found very hard to believe. Who would choose someone that betrayed them over the loving brother you have lived with your entire life. This made no sense. Also, I found it hard to feel sorry for the friend when she was indeed blackmailing someone yet never felt any consequences and in fact was rewarded.

Overall, I appreciate the author for putting her passion into this book, but for me the plot was hard to believe, and some characters could have been further developed. I also could have done with less of the father and Ginevra's story. I also found the ending somewhat disappointing for the aforementioned reasons; blackmail was rewarded, and the love of a brother was easily tossed aside for someone that the character was not on good grounds with. While I wasn't crazy about this story, it wasn't a bad read. I loved hearing about the sights the characters were seeing in Rome and other places. I was also invested in finding out the mystery and did not guess the plot twists or ending. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

The concept of the book grabs the reader. I started to piece together the mystery about 50% of the way into the book but the ending held a nice little twist at the end.

Hmm, this book was fine but overall it didn't really work for me.

Maybe I wasn't in the mood for a mystery when I picked this up or maybe I was expecting more, but it moved pretty slowly for me. In the beginning I felt like all of the characters were such blank slates that I had trouble keeping tracking of whose point of view the story was coming from. I think there were details to spark intrigue and set up the story but I found that I never quite engaged with any of the characters.

The mystery in and of itself was a bit of a red herring for other mysteries but my then I was rather bored and didn't really get too wowed by the resolution.

Others may love this one but it just wasn't for me.

I really wanted to like this one! Expectations were high, given the comparison to Agatha Christie. And while the story did take place on the Orient Express, that's about where the similarity ends. Even saying that, the premise is unusual: an author writes a book based on the life of Rory, and through interviewing her and her family, reveals a number of dark secrets. I'm hooked!

Unfortunately, this book fell down for me in the execution of this interesting idea. It felt rushed in the descriptions of the characters and settings, but on the other hand, the plot didn't move along quickly enough for the first little while. Often I like having different characters' points of view, but I wished their voices had been more different or they had had unique things to add.

I enjoyed this author's previous work, The Chateau, and would likely pick up another one by her. This one just missed the mark for me. I almost gave it 2 stars, but was so interested by the author's note about the real circumstances of Jewish people in Russia inspiring a character in this book that it added a star for me, because I did find that aspect of the book interesting.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Emily Beatles Books for providing me with an advance e-galley of this book in exchange for an honest review. Look for it in your local and online bookstores and libraries on May 21, 2024.

I enjoyed this. The characters got on my nerves a bit but it was still good. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and SS Atria Marketing for the ARC of The Main Character by Jaclyn Goldis. I enjoyed this book, the setting aboard the train and the destinations. I was familiar with the areas visited, and I liked the concept of the story. Although, it failed to be on par with Agatha Christie (as described in the promo).
The storyline of an author creating her stories through real people, instead of writing about her own experience, was interesting. A solid 4*. An interesting twist in the final chapters.

This is one of the best books I’ve ever read! It was new and fresh, twisty and turny. I had no idea what was coming and LOVED IT! This is a masterpiece in fiction. I think that the author just earned a place in my top 5 favorites of all time! This book was so interesting and I kept reading under the covers like a child. I just couldn’t stop! I adored the characters; they were so nuanced and complex. The scenes were perfectly descriptive without being wordy or overly done. Honestly wish that I could give it 10 stars, that’s what is deserved for this masterful storytelling!

I love mysteries and thrillers. You tell me something is going to be like Murder on the Orient Express and I am HERE FOR IT.

This book fell so flat though. There was too much going on. To be honest, an ENTIRE character could have been cut (at least as a POV) and it wouldn't have made a difference.

I'm not mad that I read it, so it gets three stars, but I expected more from this kind of concept.

Great premise. Author on a train, trying to come up with the best plot for her new novel. She likes to write her real life, so she sometimes hires people to write about, after intense interviews. Brilliant setting on the Italian- Mediterranean coast. Never really connected with this authors writing style. I’m sure many people will love this homage to Agatha Christie, just wasn’t the book for me.
Thanks to the author, NetGalley, and Atria books for the arc in exchange for my honest review.
3.5 stars rounded up

As stated in the description, there are certain ly parallels to Agatha Christie, and the setup is well done. I found the title and use of “main character energy” odd. When we stop using this term so often, the book might grow old and outdated quickly, but i would like to be proven wrong. I would still recommend this to patrons who enjoy closed room family dramas.

Honestly the second from this author that I wasn't a fan of. Maybe she's just not for me! I had a feeling from the first chapter and it never really took off for me. Cool premise though!

This was such a good book! I loved the characters, and their story. The dialogue was realistic and enjoyable. I was very surprised by the ending!

Jaclyn Goldis’ homage to Agatha Christie continues with this refreshing new twist on “Murder on the Orient Express.” Her first mystery, “The Chateau,” gathered characters at an isolated chateau, all with secrets, much like many Hercule Poirot scenarios. Her main author character in this book hates being known as a “derivative Agatha Christie” but it really is a compliment to be compared with the very best.

In this novel, we already know the “mastermind” behind the unfolding plot: a super best-selling author named Ginerva Ex. Ginerva’s particular literary speciality is interviewing a real person about their life, then incorporating the juicy parts into a fictional murder mystery. However, her last book bombed due to a poor choice of character who was perceived as exceedingly dull.

This time, Ginerva has selected Rory Aronov, daughter of a Russian immigrant, Ansel (currently suffering from dementia) and sister of a multimillionaire pharma tech bro, Maximillian, on the cusp of developing a vaccine for Alzheimer’s. Rory was a popular newscaster in Los Angeles until something blew that up and she left in disgrace. At the same time, a ten year relationship with her boyfriend Nate imploded. Rory, Max, and Nate had all been close, including her bestie Caroline, who is employed (and loved) by Max. But they have all drifted away from each other. After her intense interviews with Ginerva, Rory took some lengthy meditative time off (a silent retreat), isolating herself from the world. Now she’s ready to resume her life and she finds she’s been gifted with a ticket from the author on the famous Orient Express (once a dream of hers that she shared with Ginerva). As she boards, she’s confronted with a not-so-pleasant surprise: Max, Nate and Caroline are onboard, too, along with Ginerva’s lawyer Gabrielle, with whom Rory had a fling. And a preview copy of the book, “Cabin on the Lake” is also given to everyone. But…is the book finished? Is Ginerva still scripting Rory’s life and those of her friends? The book contains a fictional murder, but what happens if a real murder among the group now takes place?

There are 4 first person POV narrators: Rory, Max, Caroline, and Nate. Ginerva gets a third person perspective in her chapters, many of them flashbacks. There are other background characters: Ansel, the ailing off-screen father; Marco, the steward; Gabrielle, the lawyer, and his daughter, Chiara; and various recurring train passengers. However, Goldis excels at keeping a multitude of characters easily understandable (as she did in “The Chateau”). The characters are well drawn and we eventually learn much of their emotions and motivations, although we still need Ginerva’s story to fill in the gaps.

There were some illogical leaps to hurry the storyline along, like Rory immediately assuming that because Italian Ginerva uncovered Rory’s adoption, she might be Rory’s mom or might somehow know Ansel who has primarily lived in Michigan his adult life. But that take was quickly put into the reader’s consciousness to consider.

The novel dives deep into parent/child relationships — especially ones where there’s an absent mother. But you won’t figure out all the twists until the very end…. 5 stars!

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES Rory, the main character, has green eyes, as does Gabrielle’s daughter Chiara.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO Ginerva believes that to be happy, she needs to create a garden from weeds.

Thank you to Atria Books/Emily Bestler Books and NetGalley for a free advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

Review of eGalley

Ginevra Ex, with her newest manuscript, has planned a trip on the Orient Express, a perfect trip for Rory and the other characters in her book. She meticulously planned, but she forgot that often those characters have minds of their own and behave in unexpected ways.

Despite the extensive interviews, Rory is excited to have been chosen to be Ginevra’s latest main character. Now, she’s received this unexpected extravagance: a trip aboard the Orient Express. But she soon discovers that her brother, Max, her best friend, Caroline, and her ex-fiancé, Nate, are all aboard the train as well.

Why has Ginevra invited them? What secrets lurk, held close by each of the guests aboard the train?

And who will end up dead?

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Told from several perspectives . . . Ginevra, Rory, Max, Caroline, and Nate . . . the unfolding narrative holds several shocking secrets that the characters slowly reveal to the reader. An undercurrent of tension runs throughout the telling of the tale and tension builds throughout the narrative.

Intriguing [but not necessarily likable] characters, an extraordinary setting, and a truly twisted plot all work together to keep the suspense building as readers slowly unravel the mystery as they read “The Cabin on the Lake,” Ginevra’s fictionalized account of the characters.

Despite an ending that is likely to leave readers wanting something more, most of the questions are answered and the mystery solved. However, a plot point involving Ginevra and Orsola is likely to be a disappointment for many readers.

Recommended.

I received a free copy of this book from Atria Books, Atria/Emily Bestler Books and NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
#TheMainCharacter #NetGalley

This mystery has all the feels and cinematic suspense! Rory is an authentic character that is easily relatable as a person and as an inspiration for a murder mystery. Her family background and the way that her friends become her family makes for excellent character development of the integral players of the story. Ginevra is mysterious, though, as she can be a wonderful benefactor or a master manipulator - either is conceivable. The manner in which Genevra divines inspiration is an interesting concept - I like the way that she takes basic information on real people in which to spin an elaborate tale. This way, you have 2 mysteries in the book: the unfolding of Rory's life and the mystery of the fiction penned by Genevra. The pieces of the mystery are scattered like confetti - you try to gather up the pieces, but it is near impossible to fit them together to make a picture. It takes some shocking revelations to understand the full repercussions of the incredible train journey. I absolutely love the way the author penned a fairy tale out of the character's history. Persecution of Russian Jews is integral to this story, and I appreciate the sensitive way the author has woven fact into her fiction. This book is like the train ride the characters are on - hop on; you are going to love the ride!

Thank you Netgalley, and Atria Books for the ARC of this book.

I was very intrigued by the description of the book. Rory becomes thd main character of famous author, General Ex's next book. After tireless interviews over 3 months, Ginervra gifts Rory a luxurious trip on the Orient Express. Rory us quickly surprised by unexpected people on the train, her brother, her best friend and her ex-fiance. As the book proceeds, we learn about many betrayals, from the recent past to the long ago psst that will change both Rory's and Ginevra's lives forever.

I liked the book, though parts did fall short for me. I was expecting more from the ending, which seemed too rushed and didn't do the rest of the book justice. Comparison to Agatha Christie are really only valid as far as both books involve murder and The Orient Express.

3.5 out of 5 ⭐️

Rory is gifted with a lavish trip on the Orient Express through Italy, a reward from literary diva Ginevra Ex for her participation in her unorthodox writing process. But there's a twist – she's not the only one aboard. Her brother, best friend, even her ex-fiancé – all Ginevra's guests, all harboring secrets and agendas. Each among the quartet is given drafts of the author's forthcoming book, for which they were all interviewed extensively, as part of Ginevra's rituals for fleshing out her "main character." We experience the trip through each of their perspectives, and as the train rolls along, the intrigue picks up as we realize that even the secrets we thought we were privy to begin to twist in unexpected ways and lead to new revelations. Rory increasingly supects that she is much more than a mere muse to Ginevra and that no one, even those she loves dearest, are being honest with her. I thoroughly enjoyed this thrilling romp filled with history, glamorous travel, and juicy family drama.