Many thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. I enjoyed it but not as much as expected.

I'm a fan of her and her dad. These friends have been cancelled by social media and get together to renew their friendship after a decade apart. After a man goes missing after a prank the girls do after lunch starts a whirlwind of suspicion and speculation. I thoroughly enjoyed it

3/5 stars! Thank you, NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for this eARC of The Note by Alafair Burke.

I'm so glad I got the opportunity to read this because this is actually my first book by this author and she did not disappoint! I'm already on the waitlist to read her other books from my libby library. I feel like this book definitely had potentials but I think there were just some parts of the story where I got annoyed of each of the friends in the group...and the girls weekend getaway in the Hamptons. I don't know, I guess it was slightly hard for me to connect - especially with some parts of the friendship...just not my style of friendship - or keeping friendship with all the secrets. I can see where the author was going with the story...I think I would've enjoyed this book a little bit more if I was younger and not jaded by life already haha. Overall, I really enjoyed this author's writing and can't wait to read her other books!

DNF
2 stars because I have enjoyed other thrillers by Burke and the writing is good.

Plot: Three long time friends get together for a weekend away in the Hamptons. They're called the Cancelled Crew (or something) and they all bring secrets and scandals along with them, trying to move past things and enjoy their time with each other. But a "harmless" prank leads to a police investigation and the weekend away goes wrong.

I wanted to enoy this one as I have others by Alafair Burke, but somehow this one just didn't do it for me. The characters were all the same and it was hard to separate them into their own person. There were SO MANY references to the pandemic and masking and vaxing....it's 2025 and I'd like to move on. I wouldn't have even requested the book had I known that was a major topic. There were also many other hot button social issues repeated ad nauseum. It just didn't pull me in.

I know that there are many of great reviews from other early readers, so I encourage you to read some other reviews, and then just read the book for yourself (but maybe get it from your library instead of wasting your money on it).

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

The Note by Alafair Burke had a lot of potential with its intriguing setup and strong opening. Burke does a great job creating tension and weaving in real-world themes, and there were definitely moments that kept me turning the pages. However, the pacing felt uneven at times, and I found it hard to fully connect with some of the characters. The ending wrapped things up a little too quickly for my taste, leaving a few threads feeling unresolved. Overall, it was an interesting read with flashes of brilliance, but it didn’t quite deliver the full impact I was hoping for. Still worth checking out if you’re a fan of Burke’s style or looking for a quick suspenseful story.

This was a fun thriller, I enjoyed the current day issues. I did end up guessing the ending but thought it was well done. This is my first book from this author and I look forward to reading more. 3.5 stars

What could be better that a girls weekend in the Hamptons, especially when the wealthiest friend is footing the bill? May and her friends Lauren and Kelsey had lost touch. Each had experienced a scandal that left them bonded but leary of a spotlight, less their pasts would be dragged back up. They drank too much the first night and may have had a hand in a murder... It's foggy and each woman remembers or pretends to forget what really happened that night. The following days have them questioning each other and themselves. Did their stupid prank cost a man his life?

Thank you Knopf and NetGalley for the DRC of The Note. All opinions in this review are my own.

If I hadn't already DNFed the last two mysteries I tried to read, I would have probably DNFed this one too. For being under 300 pages, The Note has so many plot lines that it can be difficult to follow at times.

All three women have their own experience with being publically cancelled, a fellow counselor died at the camp they went to, and the main character has a history with her friend's step-brother which causes problems with her fiance (even though she doesn't seem to like him very much). Finally, on their girls' trip, a man goes missing and they might be involved.

Overall, I feel like this author started out with a good idea but then was told that the book was too short so they added backstory which overcomplicated it. Unfortunately, the ending was unsurprising and unsatisfying.

The Note by Alafair Burke starts with an intriguing hook—a mysterious message that sets off a chain of events—but doesn’t quite deliver the punch I’ve come to expect from her thrillers. The setup is strong, and Burke’s writing is reliably sharp, pulling you in with ease.

However, the suspense begins to fizzle about halfway through. The twists feel somewhat predictable, and a few plot threads are left dangling or resolved too conveniently. The main character has moments of depth, but I found it hard to stay emotionally invested as the story progressed.

While The Note has flashes of the gripping storytelling Burke is known for, it doesn’t fully live up to its potential. A decent read for fans of domestic thrillers, but not her strongest work.

I was given an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my review.

This story captivated me and kept me double guessing the true suspect until the very end. I enjoyed learning about the friendship between the three totally different women through the years. I was especially impressed by how they came together again in the end. The parts that were police procedural were really great too. The writing was almost like watching a tv crime drama. It had all the elements. Truly enjoyable book.

This was interesting but ultimately the ending was a little ridiculous. I enjoyed some parts of this but it just wasn't memorable for me.

Three best friends who have all been canceled for something they supposedly did decide to get together and vacation. Suddenly things spin out of control and someone is missing. I enjoyed this book and the main character, May. the story was predictable but I still enjoyed it.

The Note by Alafair Burke
⭐️⭐️

This was not an easy story for me to read. I felt it was slow moving, and I had trouble concentrating on the story.

The story itself is about three friends on a girls' getaway weekend in the Hamptons , who play a small prank, and it escalates into more than they bargained for. It tests the limits of their friendship. The synopsis of the book sounded interesting.

If you enjoy mysteries, you will like this. The dynamic of the girls' friendship is well developed. I personally had trouble becoming invested in the story.

Thank you, NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor, for the advanced reader's copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#NetGalley #TheNote #GeneralFictionAdult #MysteryandThrillers

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the gifted copy of The Note. All opinions are my own. This is my first book by this author and unfortunately it was kind of a flop for me. I really enjoyed the author’s writing and would love to read more of her books.

Three friends from their teenage years reconnect after life gets in the way as adults. While taking a reunion trip all together something sinister occurs. The friends realize that what is happening in present day is eerily history repeating itself.

I enjoyed the premise and the outline of the book but overall it felt kind of a miss for me. This does not mean that it won’t be a hit for other readers though.

I can’t say this was a psychological thriller, there was no punch to it. I could not connect with the characters & found it was switching from past to present with unnecessary detail and throughout the entire book. I wish I liked this one more but phew am I happy it’s over.

I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review. I want to start by saying that I would have absolutely picked this off of the shelf. The cover/font is what I was originally drawn to. The description sounded right up my alley as well! I had high hopes. Unfortunately this book was a miss for me. I didn't care for any of the characters, the story seemed to go off the tracks a bit and there weren't enough twists and turns for me that weren't predictable. I won't say there wasn't any! There was certainly one that made my jaw drop. I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend this book, however, I didn't dislike it either. I'm glad I read it but it will be one and done for me.

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 one is a winner. The twists and turns, the connections, all from one simple act of a what was supposed to be an inside joke. It would make a great summer getaway read!I loved it!

SO good. A harmless prank turned evidence of a murder? This story is one that will keep you turning pages and untangling threads all the way through!

This was my first book by Alafair Burke and I had high hopes for it. Everyone always raves about Burke’s other books so I was excited to check this one out. The characters were annoying and the ending was anticlimactic and rushed. I’m not sure I want to read Burke’s previously published books after reading this one. I’m not sure if this author is for me.