You will be disappointed if you go into this anticipating an Agatha Christie inspired murder mystery. This was more soap opera on a train with a murder in the last 50 pages. It wasn’t until those last pages that momentum picked up and then ended abruptly. Despite the miss on marketing and mystery, I enjoyed The Main Character for what it was: a picturesque character and family-driven drama set on the Italian coastline with animated characters and some mild intrigue. While the story dragged on at times and fell short of delivering suspense, it was still alluring with dramatic characters and some unexpected twists.

I love this cover! The description of the book is fabulous but reading it didn't keep my interest in the story as much as I hoped. It fell flat and felt boring instead of a page turner to me. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Overall it was a good book but in some parts it feel a little flat . I know it was a comparison to Agatha Christie’s life and I still like her books better

Rory has been providing her life story to Ginevra Ex, a very famous author.Ginevra has an interesting way of writing her books. She buys someone’s life story that interests her, then changes it enough so that she turns it into a fictional story. But Rory is stunned when Ginevra buys her a ticket on the Orient Express as a thank you present, when their work is done. She’s even more surprised that Ginevra also invited her brother Max, her best friend, Caroline, her ex-fiancé, Nate, and Gabriele, a man she has casually dated.
The trip of a lifetime suddenly doesn’t seem quite so glamorous to Rory. She has a lot of feelings towards these people and currently they are not bringing her joy. But what can she do? Maybe some rifts can be fixed or maybe not since there are numerous secrets and lies that will be revealed.
I enjoyed finding out why Ginevra set up this trip. When everything was revealed, I was like oh my gosh what a tangled web we weave. I will say that the ending seemed rather abrupt. I just would’ve liked a bit more. Still, I cannot say that I didn’t enjoy the ride.

I found the premise of The Main Character by Jaclyn Goldis intriguing, and despite comparisions to Agatha Christie, the story is its own. A reclusive, best-selling author sends her latest story inspiration on a lavish trip with friends and family, and of course, everyone is hiding something.

This was a fun read for me from the beginning. I enjoyed the writing style and was interested the whole way through. It may have suffered a bit from one too many twists or secrets, but it's a book that I would recommend to most any mystery lover. This isn't a high-paced thriller but more a character study that looks at the impact of deception.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #AtriaBooks for a free copy of #TheMainCharacter by Jaclyn Goldis. All opinions are my own.

I’m obsessed with the cover. It’s perfection. Exact vibes, NAILED.

I stopped after chapter 1, but the prose feels luscious and overall well-executed. This seems like it will be a treat for readers. Likely a very easy three stars, four to five for the right readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for the ARC.

Thank you #NetGalley for an ARC of #Main Character in exchange for an honest review.

I was excited about this book at first, because of the parallels between this book and the Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie, but Christie is a tough act to follow most of the time. This book unfortunately fell flat for me in a lot of spots. I had trouble with the pacing, but I enjoyed the prose. I think my problem was that I was comparing it to Christie's version... I was determined to finish the book, but then I found the lack luster. I think some may enjoy and it wasn't a bad read, just not my fave. 3.5 starts seems fair.

The two similarities this has to Murder on the Orient Express:
1. Happens on a train.
2. Death. (eventually)

Comparing any mystery to Queen Agatha Christie is a bold move. You'd be hard-pressed to find a mystery-lover who hasn't read at least one of her novels. I rarely think the comparison is fair, and that's certainly the case here.

I do love a good dramatic cast, but the characters are more immature than anything. Despite being in their thirties, they were petty and childish in many ways. Despite the insane drama (cheating, unrequited love) it was still boring.

The story dragged out. It would have helped if this was an actual murder mystery. This reads more like a boring thriller. It's based on secrets that weren't super exciting. I can't decide if the secrets bored me because of what they were or if I didn't care about the characters.

If you love a soap opera cast and go into this expecting a thriller, you might like this one. Unfortunately, it was not for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books, for the advance copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

I really wanted to love this one. I absolutely love Agatha Christie retellings, and I was excited to read a Murder on the Orient Express retelling. But… it just fell so flat me for me. Genevrie was portrayed too much of a god, and the rest of the friend group had zero personality. There was too much and not enough going on at the same time. It also just felt too far fetched for why they were on the train, to the point that the plot felt useless. Such a bummer this was a miss!

I had a hard time getting through this book. I thought the premise was new and interesting, and I looked forward to seeing how the author would execute the story. I also liked the Italian setting and the nod to Agatha Christie and the Orient Express. All of these elements should have combined for an exciting and tense murder mystery, but I didn’t feel as though the book quite got there. I have been thinking about the story since finishing and the only word(s) that keep coming to mind is ‘bogged down’.

Thank you, Netgalley and Atria Books, for this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

A unique spin on an Agatha Christie inspired train, where motives are murky and plot twists abound!

I loved this story and the steady build up as the threads all start to tie together towards the end. I predicted a few of the early twists but not the final one which really brought the entire narrative together.

I enjoyed this one just as much as The Chateau! Goldis is now 2 for 2 with her suspense novels!

A rip-roaring good read, and I loved the homage to Agatha Christie and the opulence of The Orient Express. I enjoyed the mystery an and various twists and turns. My one criticism, is I’m not sure I buy the twist at the end, and it wrapped up a bit to cleanly for me, but having said that, this a great weekend read, and I’m happy to recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Main Character.

I've never read anything from this author before and the premise sounded so intriguing I was excited my request was approved.

Bestselling, reclusive author Ginevra Ex is famous for writing bestsellers based on real life people and their personal trials and tribulations.

Rory, a recently disgraced reporter, is Ex's new main character, and is delighted when the author offers a lavish trip on the newly renovated Orient Express (yes, borrowing from Agatha Christie so you know something murderous will be afoot).

When Rory discovers her older brother, BFF, and ex-bf has been invited along for the ride, Rory knows something is amiss, and it's up to her to figure out what that is.

I appreciate a slow burn narrative as much as the next person but I soon realized the story wasn't going the way I wanted to.

First, Rory is a boring, bland main character. I didn't understand why her ex wants her back so much.

Sure, none of the characters are likable, but you don't have to be likable for me to be interested in the story, but here's what bugged me; everyone has something to hide and the various POVs slowed the pacing.

Not everyone's POV was warranted and it bogged down the book, read like filler as each character monologued about their association with Rory, their memories and reminisces.

Since I read SOO (TOOO) many books in this genre, I guessed some of the twists, including the obvious; Ginevra had a connection with Rory.

Rory and Max's father's past serves as a huge backdrop to why the author has invited Rory and her closest friends and family on this disaster of a trip.

I got the feeling the author wanted to write a historical novel highlighting the horrors and atrocities Jews have endured throughout history but added in a 'mystery' to make it 'interesting.'

But to me made the story unnecessarily long; I would have preferred a historical novel featuring Rory's dad and Ex and her sister.

I still don't understand why Ex planned this elaborate ruse to get everyone on the train or did I miss that part?

Ex isn't a pleasant or likable character, either. She lacks confidence and self esteem despite her success, which I understand.

If you grew up without praise and respect from your family, you rarely have any for yourself.

Still, it was difficult to take Ex seriously as an author; she doesn't factor in the narrative often except mostly in flashbacks but she came off as arrogant, haughty, lacking street smarts despite everything she's been through.

The writing was good, but there was too much of everything; too much historical background, too many perspectives, the constant monologuing from each character became tedious and repetitive.

The story was not suspenseful or thrilling. It was basically just a couple of people with secrets and not communicating with one another.

I didn't mind the ending, despite some reviewers having expressed their dissatisfaction.

Sometimes, there are no happy endings and no one lives happily ever after.

This book was an atypical mystery and I liked the details and intricacies that made it unique! We've got a trip on The Orient Express as a nod to Agatha Christie, the beautiful setting of Italy that I'm partial to, and perspectives from 5 different characters. This is one of those books you won't want to put down---lots to uncover!

Plot: Famous author, Ginerva Ex, chooses a real life "main character" to be the inspiration for each of her books. When she chooses Rory Aronov, she doesn't just bring her story to life on the page, but intervenes in her real life in many unexpected ways. Not least of which is a once-in-a-lifetime trip through Italy on The Orient Express! The catch? Ginerva has also invited Rory's brother, Max, ex-fiancé, Nate, and best friend, Caroline, all without her knowledge. Rory is currently having issues with each of these surprise passengers, which makes for quite the interesting trip. Secrets start getting revealed as each character reads a manuscript of Ginerva's book about all of them and the line between fact & fiction becomes blurred quickly. When a passenger is murdered toward the end of the trip, everything they thought they knew is turned on its head.

I thought the fictional book about our characters, The Cabin on the Lake, could have played a bigger role in the plot. I was genuinely invested in the continuing mishaps to Rory and uncertainty about her relationships that loomed in the foreground of this story, but felt her character could have had more layers. I think it was an ambitious undertaking to try to give us the POV of so many characters---to me, their voices ran together and it was hard to distinguish their individualities through their storytelling. The Main Character has a little bit of everything---family drama, murder mystery, historical background, and more. The ending left a little to be desired, but I still enjoyed this read!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Jaclyn Goldis for the ARC of The Main Character!

I would actually give it a 3.5 if I could because it was a fun and twisty ride on the orient express. I have never read the Agethie Christie and Im sure that’s a factor. The main character wasn’t super flushed out imo but I still enjoyed her journey. The problem is mostly that there was so many moving parts and a weird wrap up at the end. Thank you NetGalley for giving me this arc. I would recommend for anyone interested in a ride on the orient express.

THE MAIN CHARACTER, Jaclyn Goldis
Ginevra Ex has an unconventional writing approach when it comes to her mystery novels: she bases her main characters on real people that she selects and interviews. In her latest book, Rory, the main character, is working through her relationships with her friend (Caroline), brother (Max), ex- fiancé (Nate) and dad (Ansel). But this time, Ginevra’s reasons for selecting Rory are a little more personal than usual.
As a thank you for her time, Ginevra surprises Rory with a luxurious Italian journey on the Orient Express that weaves through picturesque stops (Cinque Terre to Rome to Positano). Rory is initially elated by the extravagant bonus but is swiftly disconcerted upon boarding the train, when she finds that Caro, Max and Nate are there too.
Told from the different perspectives of each character, the unfolding events reveal that Ginevra has orchestrated a real-life, twisty plot with Rory as the unwitting main character. As the journey goes on, and Ginevra's deceptions escalate, the story takes a dark turn as we soon realize that they all have secrets of their own… who is telling the truth?
The story is a fun and twisty mystery with an original plot, but the ending is disappointingly abrupt leaving issues unresolved.
Many thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review!

A bestselling thriller author arranges a luxury train trip that is not what it appears to be in this electrifying modern homage to Agatha Christie from the author of the “tense and twisty” (Julie Clark, New York Times bestselling author) The Chateau.

This was solid but nothing special. I don't hate that I read it but I don't know that I would actively recommend it.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

Quite an accomplishment for the author, this book entwined elements of her own familial history, with her own very vivid imagination, resulting in a magical multidimensional novel that is complex, imaginative and fascinating..

I found the historical element (and this is where the main character contains historical similarities to her own father) and the plight of the Jews (and those believed to be Jews) in Russia during the scourge of Hitler's reign to be mesmerizing. I had never read about the role of Russia and the KGB agents during what can easily be argued the singularly most historically atrocious and unimaginably horrific time in modern history.

To the primary part of this novel, this multifaceted book reminds us of valuable lessons such as finding our own self-worth, and following what we feel to be true despite what others attempt to convince us of (regardless of how close we might be to that person).

I have seen some relatively critical reviews of this novel, but personally, I think it was a work of art - one the author should take pride in creating. I wouldn't define it as a mystery, rather I would categorize it as a work of literary fiction, despite endearing connections and homages paid to the great Agatha Christie, and numerous corpses, amazing twists, and some "close calls".

Took me a bit to get into the story, but I was glad I stuck with it, a valuable, thought-provoking novel.

I so wanted to love this book because of the blurb and description. I think it was well written and most people would probably enjoy it, but I thought it was a little to slow for my taste. There are alot of different POVs between the characters (and while normally I enjoy that) I couldn't keep track with this book, but I was determined to finish it and was even disappointed with the unsuspenseful ending.

This just wasn't the book for me but others may very well enjoy! 3/5 stars.

Rory goes for the ride of her life on the Orient Express through Italy à la Hercule Poirot. She glimpses all the sights and secrets those around her could be hiding. Especially those close to her. And throughout her trip, she soul-searches and finds there to be no coincidences.

The reason she is sent on this trek through different Italian locales is due to none other than famed author, Ginevra Ex. Even her name oozes drama and promises this to be the story of a lifetime. Her approach to storytelling is unconventional and intriguing to say the least. She intentionally selects real people to be her fictional main characters to star in each of her works. But her reasons for selecting Rory are a little more personal than usual. As you read, you’ll discover why and get a look into several different perspectives: Rory herself, Caroline, Rory’s best friend, Max, her brother, and Nate, her ex-fiancé.

I mostly enjoyed this book and was readily allured by its premise, but there were a couple loose ends left behind. Some including never finding out why Rory lost her job as a news anchor, and mostly towards the end in regards to the twist, which was powerful yet not fully believable.

Sometimes to seek beauty, however, we must look deeper into ourselves and coax our insecurities out of hiding in order to address them and this book genuinely speaks to that. It also speaks to what it means to heartbreakingly lose time.

It is sad, devastating, and original through and through and reminds that we can’t be someone else’s main character our whole lives, but own the integrity and truths of our own stories. Really, take control of our specific narratives and rewrite and edit them in the ways we see fit. And along the way, hopefully enjoy life more than survive it when we can because it passes by in the flash of an eye.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review!