Megan Collins’ Cross My Heart is a haunting and evocative psychological thriller that explores themes of grief, guilt, identity, and the moral complexities of human desire. The novel centers on Rosie Lachlan, a young woman who received a heart transplant and, in the wake of her recovery, becomes obsessed with the life of the woman who donated the organ—specifically, with the woman's husband.

Rosie’s internal struggle is captivating. She feels an undeniable pull toward the donor's widowed husband, who becomes a symbol of connection to the woman whose heart now beats within her chest. This fixation raises a series of ethical and emotional questions that will keep readers engaged throughout the narrative: Does Rosie have a right to claim this connection, or is she simply projecting her own desires onto a man who has no idea of her obsession? The tension between longing and guilt, and between the lines of fate and free will, creates a deeply compelling atmosphere.

In conclusion, Cross My Heart is a beautifully written, haunting novel that blends mystery with psychological drama. Collins does an excellent job of exploring complex themes through the eyes of a relatable and vulnerable protagonist. If you’re drawn to books that delve into the darker side of the human condition and the lengths people will go to in their search for connection, this book is definitely worth the read.

If you are in the market for unhinged female protagonists then look no further than Cross My Heart. The story centres around a recovering heart transplant patient Rosie Lachlan who connects with the donor's husband. What follows is a twisty story of obsession, stalking, social media addiction, all in the name of love.

Read this if you like:
-unreliable narrators and unlikeable, questionable supporting characters
-twists and turns with some red herrings
-a wow reveal halfway thru that you don't see coming
-the world of heart transplants including the recovery and emotional toil
-bridal shop work setting
-did they or didn't they trope
-secrets and lies
-gaslighting
-negative effects of social media
-the literary world of bestselling authors versus published poets
-questionable use of real life trauma as writing material
-use of emails, poetry, and texts to add dimension to story

My rating 3.75 out of 5 (I wanted more of a wow ending so I took off .5)

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for this eARC that will be published January 14 2025.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for an early copy of this book in exchange of a honest review. I loved this book and read it in one sitting. I loved the characters and the storyline. I was surprised of some of the twists in this book. I would definitely recommend this book.

Every single character in this book is nuts and I ate up every second of it! This book is full of obsession, questionable behavior, and a few twists I didn’t see coming. There’s a huge OMG moment at the midpoint which completely changes the trajectory of the storyline and, because everyone is a little bit sus, it was hard to pin down who I wanted to blame. This book is perfectly bingeable and the audio makes it easy to finish in a day! I simply couldn’t stop listening!

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy.

Megan Collins always writes a twisty suspense novel and this one is no different. There are twists and red herrings and although I had guesses, I was second guessing myself right up until the last few chapters. It started out kind of slow but quickly picked up the pace, and by the end, I couldn't put it down.

This was exactly the book I needed to binge during the Louisiana Snow-pocalypse of 2025!

It took a bit to get into this book, but it ended up being quite good. I enjoyed the character development, all of the red herrings, and the resolution.

I gave this 4.5 stars!

**POSSIBLE SPOILERS**

This was a classic friend who falls in love with her best friend, jealousy type story... but with some major twists and turns. I found the beginning was slow to start, but once the story picked up pace...it did not stop and definitely kept me guessing!

Thank you, NetGalley, Megan Collins, and Atria Books, for a copy in exchange for an honest review!

"It was debilitating work, turning my pain into a prison, but disturbingly easy, too, because just like {spoiler}, I'd pinned my happiness on somebody else."

Wow, this thriller... wow. I am on an 'unhinged women' streak this year and I loved all of this book. At 50% my jaw DROPPED and I had to rethink everything I read before it. Cross My Heart by Megan Collins is such a unique thriller. Rosie Lachlan has had a lot of heartbreak in her life with guys and, well, literally her heart breaking. She recently had a heart transplant and she finds out the recipient was her favorite author's wife who was tragically found dead. Rosie starts to become obsessed with Morgan Thorne the author via DonorConnect where she can anonymously communicate with him, During her obsessive deep dives she begins to see clues that maybe his wife died a very untimely and tragic death.. by him. This book is super layered and really touches on so much of love, gas lighting, and just how women feel the need to change themselves for the love of a man. I truly loved this book and highly recommend. You gotta love a book with great Taylor Swift references too! Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC.

Loved the concept of this! I thought it was so unique. There were often times where I cringed at what the main character did, but that was the point. I loved it so much!

Collins Captivates Again
The frigid weather we’ve been experiencing lately has been good for one thing: curling up with a great book. And "Cross My Heart" by Megan Collins was exactly that—a thrilling and thought-provoking read that I couldn’t put down. This is my third Megan Collins book, and while it didn’t quite reach the five-star heights of her previous works for me, it’s still a solid four-star read that captivated me from the very first page to the final twist.

"Cross My Heart" is a dark, twisted tale of love, loss, and obsession. The story follows Rosie Lachlan, a woman recovering from both a heart transplant and the heartbreak of being left at the altar a year earlier. As she adjusts to her new life, Rosie begins to suspect her heart donor was Daphne Thorne, the wife of local celebrity author Morgan Thorne. Compelled by this connection, Rosie reaches out to Morgan through an anonymous platform called Donor Connect, hoping to uncover more about Daphne—and herself.

What follows is a suspenseful journey filled with unexpected twists and shocking revelations. Rosie’s need for answers pulls her deeper into Morgan’s world, where truths blur with lies, and nothing is as it seems. The novel expertly keeps readers guessing, unraveling the layers of both Rosie’s and Morgan’s lives until a jaw-dropping conclusion.

If you enjoy psychological thrillers with a romantic edge, "Cross My Heart" is a must-read. Megan Collins once again proves her talent for crafting gripping, emotionally charged stories that linger long after the final page.

Thank you to NetGalley, Megan Collins, and Atria Books for the ebook. This was a thrilling, fast-paced read that kept me hooked from start to finish. The unique trope had my mind racing, and the ending left me with plenty to think about. Highly recommended!

4.25 stars

This was a ride. I was excited to get to this on my TBR since I really enjoyed this author's book last year, "Thicker Than Water". This one follows Rosie, who recently had a heart transplant, and finds out she received the donated heart of a woman who was married to her favorite (male) author, Morgan. They start to correspond through the anonymous Donor Connect server, and Rosie wonders if her new heart has maintained a connection to Morgan even after the transplant, or if this is all her. 

Rosie is a very optimistic and romantic woman, but she isn't dumb--when she starts hearing rumors online that maybe Morgan's wife's death wasn't accidental, and that he could have had something to do with it, she's wary. And so are her friends and family. Because this wouldn't be the first time that Rosie got wrapped up in a romance that she should have run from. 

I won't spoil anything here, but the twists were twisting in this book, and I did not see literally anything coming. That rarely happens to me in a thriller, and it made this so much fun! I also really loved Rosie and her voice. She was so different than me, but felt very real and like someone I'd be friends with. She had such a bright outlook that even the dark subject matter in this book ended up feeling almost light and fun to read. Also loved all the Taylor Swift references. I will keep picking up Megan Collins' work--can't wait for the next one! Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

“All those dresses. All those beaming brides. All the white, white, white—a perfect, too-clean canvas for the blood still pulsing through my mind.”

The best way that I can describe what it’s like to read this book is like sitting on the side of the road and watching a head-on collision, knowing that there’s nothing that you can do to stop it, but not being able to look away.

4.5 stars! This book was just so fast paced and compulsively readable. It it told its multiple formats including chapters, email exchanges, voicemail transcripts, and texts. Very relevant to the times.

And the TWIST. The. Twist. I actually had to pause while reading like huh? Wait what?! I may or may not have actually flipped back into the story to make sure I read it all correctly. Gahh the best kind of twist!

“Breakups are more than heartache. They derail the life you thought you had—which only throws everything else off track. Your plans for the future. Your routines. Your sense of worth. Even once the dust settles, you’re left with disorienting fog. Internal chaos. And what’s a person to do with that?”

Thank you to Netgalley, Atria Books (the resident book fairy), and Megan Collins for the gifted ARC!

The premise of this one was (for me anyway) super unique and I had no idea where this story was headed!

Out now!
Grab this one if you love:
-unique storyline
-twists upon twists
-mixed media (emails between certain characters)
-super bingable

Now, I know our girl Rosie has had a few ROUGH months but I found it so hard to want the best for her when she seemed like such a hot mess and a bit OTT in her desire to find The One (eye roll, lol). Towards the end I was able to feel for her a little more but it took a while to get there.

The TWISTS keep coming. There were lots of times I had no clue who to trust, what was going on, or what was real. It was a great ride!

I loved the use of emails in Part One to tell the story.

Thank you to Atria Books for my copy of CROSS MY HEART. This one is out Jan 14.

I really did just gobble this whole book up. I'm becoming a big Megan Collins fan, and her newest one is no exception. I loved the characters, the subtle nods to other authors in the genre, and the snacks. Oh boy, this one made me crave all the sweets mentioned! SO MANY SWEETS. Get yourself a danish or cinnamon bun and a copy of CROSS MY HEART and thank me later.

✨ The Vibes ✨
Taylor Swift inspired suspense (with a dash of romance)

📖 Read if…
✨ You want a thriller that is unsettling, but not scary
✨ Taylor Swift is always on your Spotify Wrapped
✨ You’re not opposed to some romance in your thrillers

Megan Collins has written some of the most unique thrillers out there, and her latest, Cross My Heart cements her reputation as a must-read author for all thriller fans.

Cross My Heart opens with Rosie, a recent heart transplant recipient who is falling in love with someone new. The catch? His dead wife was Rosie’s donor. It’s a really creative premise that has plenty of drama built in, but Collins is able to elevate the premise even further with the secrets each character is hiding.

This is one of those stories that leaves you constantly questioning what you’ve read (but in a good way). It’s full of clues and surprises but it never feels muddled or confusing – it’s basically a perfect thriller. And on top of that, the story has a strong emotional arc. It’s easy to write Rosie off as being crazy, but Collins does a great job of humanizing Rosie and deconstructing the way our society so often labels women’s emotions as ‘craziness’. I think every reader will empathize with Rosie at some point in the story as, without giving anything away, she goes through a lot and getting to see how she heals and comes out the other side made the ending even more satisfying.

This is perfect for any thriller fan that wants a story with equal parts plot and character development, but I think it would also be a good pick for romance fans who are looking to branch into thrillers as romance is very key to the story. Swifties will also find a lot to love as there is a lot of thematic overlap with her songs.

Cross My Heart is out now. Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

WOW! I read this book in 2 sittings, and only because I had to go to sleep and wake up for work the next day. This book was so intriguing, entertaining, and twisted! The author is a great writer. She writes from different POVs and makes each POV unique and true to its author. Also, learning about heart transplants and hearing about this, even from a fictional POV, was informational and also kind of frightening in its own way. I liked the snippets of email correspondence and text messages throughout as well. Overall, great book and so fun to read!

I love a story with a good twist and this one had me saying “wait, what!” more than once. The premise of this was unlike other thrillers and taught me things about heart donation that I never knew. Our MC, Rosie, was sweet and loving but very naive - while I wanted to root for her she made me cringe with her various choices. The ending really brings everything full circle with our MC which I thought was genius.

This book was an easy read, but that was about it. I had high expectations after seeing it online, but it ultimately fell flat for me. The beginning was promising, and I enjoyed it at first, but by the time I was three-quarters of the way through, I just wanted it to end. I couldn't connect with the main character, nor her parents or her best friend Nina—they just never felt supportive of anything she did. There was little character development; by the end, she was back to the same place she started, as if she hadn't learned anything. I just sat there like WTF, because the ending was just not what I was expecting. I really wanted to like it, and the premise seemed intriguing, but it just wasn't for me.

The pacing also felt off—slow in some places, and then rushed in others, especially toward the finale. It felt like the author tried to cram too much into too little time, leaving key plot points underdeveloped and characters’ actions unclear. The twists, while attempting to be shocking, felt forced and predictable. By the end, I wasn't invested in the story or the characters, which made the climax fall completely flat.

Overall, I couldn't shake the feeling that the book lacked depth. I wanted more substance, more growth, and more emotional payoff. Unfortunately, it just didn’t deliver.

Cross My Heart by Megan Collins is the perfect mix of heart-pounding suspense and psychological depth. Rosie Lachlan is still recovering from being jilted at the altar—oh, and she also received a life-saving heart transplant. No biggie, right? But Rosie’s convinced her donor is Daphne Thorne, the wife of a famous author. So, naturally, she starts anonymously messaging the widowed Morgan, thinking their shared heart connection is fate. But as their correspondence intensifies, Rosie’s dream of a love story takes a dark turn.

Collins masterfully combines intrigue and emotion in this fast-paced thriller. Rosie’s mix of hope and obsession is both relatable and chilling—how far would you go for a second chance at love? And as Rosie digs deeper into Morgan’s past, the line between fate and fantasy blurs, leading to twists that will keep you guessing.

With razor-sharp prose and unexpected turns, Cross My Heart is a psychological ride that examines love, loss, and obsession. You won’t just turn the last page—you’ll still be thinking about it long after.

Prepare for a rollercoaster of emotions and a mystery that will make you question whether your heart really knows what it wants.