
Member Reviews

What an amazing read! I always love Shari Lapena and this one didn’t disappoint. Wow! Absolutely loved the twist! Must read!

Shari Lapena is back with another fast-paced, twisty and unputdownable domestic thriller!
When Diana Brewer, a popular and well-liked local teen, is found brutally murdered in a farmer's field on the edge of her small, idyllic Vermont town, the townspeople are shocked. Fear, paranoia and suspicion grow in this spine-chilling story about small-town secrets and deception.
Through the first-person perspectives of several people in Diana's life (including Diana's own POV in the afterlife), readers learn more about Diana, her friends, family and neighbours - many of whom have secrets and will become suspects in the murder. These pivots between the characters kept the tension high and me solidly glued to the pages as I guessed and second-guessed the culprit.
There is also a poignancy to the story as we witness the impact of Diana's death on those who loved her and Diana's struggle to remember what happened to her. I appreciated how Lapena, through Diana's perspective, highlights the societal and personal pressure women feel to acquiesce and defer. How we are raised to believe the good in others and follow what men and media say over our own 'gut feelings' and intuition (that's some excellent book club discussion right there, folks!).
“How many ways, I think can a girl be assaulted? I never got to live my life. I never got to live to be old enough, to be unattractive enough to be left alone. To finally just be.”
This thought-provoking and tension-filled whodunnit will have readers guessing what happened to the popular teenager, who is telling the truth and who will do whatever it takes to keep their secrets hidden. What Have You Done? is an addictive thriller that readers will devour in a sitting or two and reinforces why Shari Lapena continues to be an auto-buy author for me.
Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Doubleday books for the complimentary digital copy of this book which was given in exchange for my honest review.

I have come to expect a solid reliable thriller from Shari Lapena and the latest did not contradict that expectation.
What we have here is a plot that just doesn’t stop spinning with suspicion thrown all over the place.
There were plenty of characters so it took me a minute to get them all straight and keep up, but when I did it was a breeze. With so many angles introduced, it did start to feel like it was grasping, intentionally introducing avenues to create suspicion, it felt a little superficial….I can’t say that I enjoyed any of the characters particularly, and ending felt abrupt, it didn’t really make sense to me, felt a little too out there… but it was entertaining and quick, which is just what I’m looking for sometimes. Not my favorite Lapena, but as mentioned, a reliable solid read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the eARC.

Shari Lapena is an auto buy author for me. Her stories always keep me engaged, I really enjoy her writing style.
What Have You Done? is her latest thriller, published July 30th, 2024. It takes place in a small town in Vermont. A teenager named Diana Brewer is found dead by a farmer. Her body was left in one of his hayfields. The question is of course, who killed Diana? I quickly turned the pages and was invested in finding out.
You have multiple POV’s throughout this book, as you try to get to the bottom of what happened to the dead teenager. I never found it confusing, the author even wrote a ghost POV, which I really liked. It gave the story a more creepy feel. I thought that added element was a great touch to the story.
Although, I see some say, they guessed the killer. I didn’t.
I don’t know what it is about books though lately, the endings tend to feel quick and rushed.
It wasn’t my favourite Shari Lapena, but I will eagerly read anything she writes. She’s great!
3.5🌟rounded up
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the advanced copy.

Firstly, I'd like to extend my gratitude to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book.
Shari Lapena's latest thriller, What Have You Done?, is a compelling dive into the dark secrets that families can hide. The premise is intriguing and hooks you right from the start. Lapena excels at creating an atmosphere of suspense and tension, making it hard to put the book down.
The characters are well-developed, each with their own layers and mysteries. The plot twists are frequent and unpredictable, keeping you guessing until the very end. However, I felt that some of the twists seemed a bit far-fetched, which slightly pulled me out of the story.
While the pacing was generally good, there were moments where the narrative seemed to drag, and I found myself wanting the story to move along faster. The ending, though surprising, left me with mixed feelings, as it felt both rushed and somewhat unresolved.
Overall, What Have You Done? is a decent read for fans of psychological thrillers, offering plenty of suspense and a few genuinely shocking moments. It's not my favorite from Lapena, but it still provides an engaging experience.

Shari Lapena is a must read author for me. Although this was not my favourite of hers, it's still a great read. I thoroughly enjoyed the multiple POVs, but it did take a while before I got everybody straight. If you struggle with multiple povs, this one is not for you.
I could've done without the paranormal aspect, it's the only part I didn't enjoy.

I don't want to give anything away, but every single terrible character got what they deserved and sometimes we readers really need that. This was gripping, I kind of figure out who did it, but I was here for the journey and the storytelling and Lapena was on point.

What Have You Done? is one of those thrillers you want to dig into with every spare moment. (Supper break pictured here lol.)
This one is up there with the first two books of Shari Lapena's I'd read and made me a fan - A Stranger In The House and The Couple Next Door.
Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada and Netgalley for my eARC for review!
Popular high schooler Diana Brewer is found dead in a farmer's field. Her small town is rocked by the news, and soon the secrets of those around her come to the surface. Local.men become suspects as their backstories are revealed in measure.
I waffled back and forth as to I thought whodunnit, and the twists certainly complicated that.
This is a satisfying and quick-read thriller with a touch of the supernatural - recommended!
Released on July 30.

This book had no lack of suspects. From the beginning, I had my suspicions who might have murdered Diana, but the red herrings abound, and the twists and turns kept me reading to see if I was correct. Hah, I love it when I'm right in a book with twists like this.

When I first read the synopsis of this book, I was completely sold. I couldn't wait to dive into a story that promised a quick read filled with suspicious characters, each with their own secrets and desperate loyalties. The small-town setting added to my excitement, evoking a sense of simpler times where everyone knew and trusted one another, to the point where locking doors at night seemed unnecessary.
From the get-go, I was immersed in the atmosphere of the town. The author did a fantastic job of painting a vivid picture of a close-knit community with its own quirks and hidden dramas. The tension among the characters was palpable, making every interaction feel loaded with potential revelations.
However, one aspect of the book took some getting used to: the numerous POVs. Each chapter featured multiple POV changes, which initially made it challenging to keep track of all the characters and their roles in the story. While this narrative style showcased how Diana's death affected her friends, family, and community, I couldn't help but feel that some characters might not have been entirely necessary.
Despite this, the story's twists and turns kept me engaged. While the surprises weren't mind-blowing, they were well-crafted and added to the overall suspense of the plot.
In the end, this book delivered a compelling mystery set in a nostalgic small-town environment. If you enjoy stories with intricate character dynamics and a touch of suspense, this might just be the perfect read for you.

Happy Publication Day to What Have You Done by Shari Lapena! First off I’d like to thank @netgalley the author and @penguinrandomca for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion. Shari is an autobuy author for me (I even had this one on preorder but was so happy to get to read it before release day).
I saw Shari at a talk about her last book describe this one and I couldn’t wait to read it. At the start of the book a girl is looking down over a body and reqlizes it’s her. She can’t remember what happened to her and she needs to know who killed her to be able to find peace. Her death flips a small town in Vermont on its head and has everyone on edge while the killer is on the loose.
I suspected the killer early on but kept flipping back and forth to other people. Shari leads the reader along on a twisty tale trying to figure out who’s responsible.
Easy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me. I actually fell asleep with my kindle in my hand because I really couldn’t put this one down. I haven’t had that in a long time.
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This was truly a book that I just could not put down. I was glued to this book from the second I picked it up. I will recommend this to all my friends who enjoy a good page-turner of a thriller.
I loved all the suspicious characters and how nobody could truly be trusted. The ending left me shocked and I always look forward to that in a book.

This domestic suspense novel takes place in small town Vermont, where everyone knows and trusts each other. But should they?
After beloved teenager Diana is found murdered in a farmer's field, this small town of familiar faces becomes a town of paranoia. Who could've done such a thing?
What worked for me:
- multiple POVs
- how the lead reflects on events that happened leading up to her murder (Kinda reminded me of The Lovely Bones in that way).
- the back and forth of 'who dun it', I was convinced 3 different people were involved throughout the book.
What left me hanging?
- the abrupt ending. After exploring different possibilities throughout the book, the ending lacked depth.

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE
by SHARI LAPENA
This author definitely does not disappoint. As with most of her books, I read this in one sitting .
I don’t want to give any spoilers, but for a mystery thriller suspense, it fits the bill. There are many suspects , only one murderer, and this was a fun read.
I highly recommend this
Thank you to Sheri Lapena and NetGalley for the advanced e-book.
Pub date July 30,2024

Who would murder Diana? That is the main question you will be racing through this book to find out. She was just a high school student?
Was it her creepy customer from her workplace? Her jealous boyfriend? It seems like it is pointing to him. She was about to break up with him .....
Twists and turns and secret will envelop you in this summer thriller. You will be shocked by the who and why.
Another hit by Shari lapena ! She can do no wrong.
Thank you to NetGalley and penguin random house Canada for this arc! It was a real treat

This was my first Shari Lapena novel, and I liked it. I am not so much into ghosts and ghost stories but I like the way that the author wrote it into the story. I liked the short chapters, it made it for an easy read. I also liked the fact that it was told by multiple points of views, which never got confusing either.
In a small town a local high school student is found naked and dead in a farmer's field. It seems that there are several suspects and no one in the town is safe. We learn about the people in Diana's life, her friends, her boyfriend, her family, her teachers, and the creep at the store she works at who comes in to see her while she's working. They all have secrets and we wonder which of those secrets can be a motive to her murder. I definitely went back and forth trying to figure out who killed her.
While this was my first novel by Shari Lapena, I definitely want to check out her other novels that she's written. I would definitely recommend this novel to anyone who likes this genre or wants to get into this style of book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada/Doubleday Canada for the ARC of What Have You Done? in exchange for my honest review.

REVIEW
What Have You Done? By Shari Lapena
4/5
I love Shari Lapena, so I was very excited to get this ARC. And fitting to review on pub day😊
Fairhill is a small town, where nothing ever happens. That is until a teen girl is discovered by a local farmer dead in his fields.
Suddenly paranoia surrounds the town, and a full investigation is underway to determine what happened. Featuring lots of twists and turns, and many POVs, this book keeps you guessing. It was still good even though I did guess some (not all) of the ending. The ending was quite abrupt and left me with some questions in a few of the plot lines.
While this was not my favourite Shari Lapena, it was still a fun thriller! I definitely stayed up a couple late nights to see how it ended.
What Have You Done? is available for purchase today, July 30, 2024. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the eARC

What Have You Done is a deliciously twisting, haunted psychological thriller that serves up the ghosts with the perfect side of bad people doing bad things and a whodunnit cast that will keep you guessing.
Shari Lapena knocks it out of the park once again with a storyline puzzle that had me convinced more than once that I knew what was about to play out next, only to find myself very wrong. I love a well built plot around moving character POV's and a series of unreliable narrators - all of whom have something to hide and a healthy dose of guilt haunting them. When everyone could have a motive, everyone is a suspect.
Serving up atmospheric tension and a building sense of dread, I was glued to this one from start to finish. I LOVED how it felt a little like The Lovely Bones, which is one of my favourite books - but without feeling like a copycat plot. Each question and thread pulls away to reveal more secrets and unknowns and each suspect looks more and more guilty as the chapters go on.
No spoilers but it was deliciously satisfying in the end.
Truly what we all want in perfect summer thriller entertainment, this one needs to be on your summer/fall TBR. You won't want to miss the chance to find out who was the worst one of them all.
Many thanks to the publisher for the copy!

This book had me hooked from the opening. With the different POVs, I felt drawn into the story in a way that isn't always possible with a single POV. I felt like I got to know the victim better, while also getting to know the various suspects, friends, and family members. If you've read enough of the genre, you'll be able to work out the twist at the end, but that's just something that comes from knowing the genre. It didn't take away from the enjoyment of the book.
The only thing I didn't like was the use of Diana as a ghost here and there. I didn't feel like it really added much to the story. Some of it could have been included via other POVs. I don't remember Shari Lapena's books having a ghost the other times I've read her, so I was taken aback a little by this.

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada and Doubleday Canada for the opportunity to read and review this book before the pub date. If you are looking for a twisty thriller with unreliable characters this summer then What Have You Done? may be what you are looking for. It has a small town that is rocked by the murder of a popular high school student. Characters that are suspicious and have motive to kill the victim. The ghost of the victim gives a little insight into what happened to her on that last night. It has a lot of twists and turns and is really the perfect beach read. I couldn't put it down and read it in one day!