Picture this: You go to drop off lunch for your fiancé and find out he's never worked in the office he claims. What?! After digging around, Claire has found out her fiancé is not who he says he is...and he's ghosted her for his real family.

There are a ton of twists and turns in this and it sucked me in from the very beginning. I loved it so much. For a debut, this is top tier!

Claire, Darling by Callie Kazumi
Started this Claire, Darling by Callie Kazumi.. Claire surprises her fiancé at work with lunch only to find he has not been working there for months. With the help of her friend, Sukhi she discovered Noah has another life with another woman. She tries to contact him but she’s been ghosted. Will she just let him go or seek revenge.. Just starting to get glimpses into her childhood and her manipulative mother, I doubt she is one to leave it alone.. Fast paced and thrilling read in this debut novel by @calliekazumi! Thank you to @netgalley, @ballatinebook @ randomhousepublishing and @calliekazumi for the advanced ebook copy. Already out on 3/11.

Claire Darling pulled me in right from the start. Claire's journey after being ghosted is relatable and full of twists I didn't see coming. Layered read that kept me turning the pages. Recommend if you're into messy real stories about possibly picking yourself up when you're down or .. something more sinister.

Wow! Claire, Darling by Callie Kazumi was an amazing psychological thriller that delivers twist and turns yet it is slowly building to an amazing ending. The characters were so well written , the tension was just enough to keep the reader questioning what else could happen to this main character, Claire. Kazumi brilliantly illustrated how mental health and family dynamics could affect children. Thank you to Netgalley & Bantam /Random House Publishing Group for the advance e- book copy for a fair review.

"Claire, Darling" is a gripping psychological thriller that draws you in from the very first page. The story revolves around Claire, who believes her life is perfect. Engaged to her charming fiancé, Noah, they are on the brink of moving in together, and their wedding is on the horizon. Claire feels a sense of euphoria as she envisions their future together.

However, her idyllic existence is abruptly shattered when Noah mysteriously disappears without a trace, leaving Claire bewildered and ghosted, grappling with unanswered questions. This sudden void in her life triggers a cascade of emotional turmoil, pushing her to confront not just the disappearance but also the haunting dynamics of her past.

Claire's relationship with her narcissistic mother intensifies the chaos in her mind. Having grown up in an environment rife with mind games and emotional manipulation, Claire struggles to discern reality from deception. As she delves deeper into her spiraling thoughts, she begins to question her sanity, especially when others around her seem to encourage this self-doubt.

The narrative is rich with suspense, filled with unexpected twists and intriguing revelations that keep you on the edge of your seat. The author's skillful storytelling masterfully balances moments of tension with introspective reflections, creating a multifaceted experience for the reader. Although there are a few pacing issues in certain sections, the overall momentum of the story compels you to keep turning the pages.

In summary, I found "Claire, Darling" to be a fantastic debut that explores themes of trust, identity, and the fragility of perception. While I would rate it 3 out of 5 due to its slower parts, the blend of mystery and character development keeps it an engaging read throughout.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC copy.

*Claire, Darling* by Callie Kazumi offers an emotional and often raw look into heartbreak, loyalty, and the way our past shapes the instincts we follow. I really enjoyed experiencing the story through Claire's perspective. Having been ghosted before, I found it easy to connect with her deep need to find out the truth, even when the person she loved was giving her absolutely nothing. Her friend’s unwavering support stood out to me too — it was comforting to see that kind of steady presence in her life, especially when others were quick to dismiss her.

At times, I found myself a little puzzled by how often the story veered into Claire’s memories of her childhood and her relationship with her mother. While it did feel somewhat disconnected at first, by the end, I appreciated the way it helped explain some of Claire's emotional reactions and tendencies. It added a subtle depth to her character, even if the transitions weren’t always as smooth as I would have liked.

The courtroom portion of the book dragged for me. I wished it had been tightened up because it slowed the momentum of the story quite a bit. That said, while the outcome became fairly obvious through the trial, the final few paragraphs were genuinely delightful and left me with a good feeling about Claire’s journey. Overall, I would give *Claire, Darling* 3.5 out of 5 stars. I’m grateful to have received an advanced reader copy from NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine.

3.5 🌟 rounded up

Claire is thrilled to surprise her fiancé, Noah, with a workday lunch for their anniversary, but she discovers he does not work where she thought. When Noah stops answering her calls and texts, Claire learns he has an entirely different life with another woman. Desperate to win him back, Claire falls into a dark spiral fueled by obsession and haunted by a troubled past shaped by her manipulative mother. As she fights to reclaim her future, Claire must face whether she can truly escape the ghosts that have always followed her.

Claire, Darling is a quick psychological thriller. I thought the pacing was even and appreciated how parts 1&2 were broken up. I can't say much else about what I liked/didn't quite like about it without spoilers.

Recommended for fans of fast-paced popcorn thrillers.

Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine for the ARC.

This starts out as a typical woman being ghosted, then gaslighted, by the man of her dreams.
It has a sinister twist, which was kind of predictable, but still a fun read.
What made it interesting was the TOTALLY unreliable narrator!
The issue I have with this book is that the plot is so similar to others I have read - the horrible, abusive mother, the bland, timid child who was bullied for a reason unknown, except that she made it easy to be bullied - I tended to skim over the parts with the flashbacks about her mother.
There could have been less of that, just a suggestion of abuse.

I absolutely love a good psychological thriller and this one, was definitely it! This is very twisty and grabbing.

I grabbed this on a whim after seeing all the buzz—and wow, the hype is real! This twisted thriller had me hooked from the first page and kept me guessing right up to the final twist. It’s the kind of book you devour in one sitting, then need a strong cup of coffee the next morning to recover… and honestly? Totally worth every sleepless minute.

Claire is excited to be engaged to Noah. One day when she decides to drop lunch off for him, she is informed that he doesn't work there. She starts to wonder what is going on, as she discovers that Noah is living a double life. He has been dating a beautiful woman, who live in a beautiful house. As her past starts to invade her present life, she is reminded of how controlling her mother was, and the abuse that she went through.

This is an interesting story that keeps you wondering.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for my honest review.

“I look down at her body, crumpled in an awkward heap, dark blood pooling beneath the head.” Wow! This first sentence of Claire, Darling instantly hooked me. This is a fantastic debut! I loved every crazy, intense, emotional minute! The story is told from Claire’s perspective both past and present. Events are relayed through diary entries and current happenings. Claire is a memorable, complex character that is not easily forgotten. “If you don't trust people they can't let you down.” Being a thriller addict, I was able to predict some of the twists, but it didn't hinder my enjoyment in any way. I was obsessed from start to finish during Claire’s journey. There were many times my heart went out to her and other times she frustrated me with her questionable decisions. This is a twisted ride and I look forward to the next creation from Callie Kazumi. Thank you, NetGalley and Ballantine/ Bantam Publishing for my copy. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Claire is excited to drop off lunch for her fiancé, Noah. It’s their anniversary, after all. But when the Claire is told that Noah hasn't worked there in months, and then Noah won't take her calls, things start to spin out of control.

What a wild ride! Is Claire a jilted, ghosted bride to be? Or a vengeful, bitter, crazypants? THAT is the root of this story. Who do you believe, especially when the evidence starts to point both ways. I absolutely loved this one.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you for this ARC! I imagine this book will be quite popular, and I kept thinking it would be a very fun show to watch. I really enjoyed this and will recommend for people wanting fun thrillers this summer.

What did I just read? Callie Kazumi’s book “Claire, Darling” will keep you guessing the whole time.

Claire thought her life was finally turning around. She suffered years of abuse from her narcissistic mother, but she was an adult now with a good job, and most importantly to her, a fiancé who loved her. They were planning a life together, building a house together, until one day it all disappeared.

Claire tried dropping off lunch for her fiancé Noah, but learned he no longer worked there. All of her calls went unanswered, and when she finally found him - he was with another woman. How will she react?

This is a psychological thriller that I could not put down. 4 stars. Thank you Netgalley and Bantam for this ARC. This is my honest review.

This book was intense! I never knew who was telling the truth and who was kying. There were plenty of liars and some awful people involved but Claire just mad me sad and scared. I liked the book and the ending was crazy so I will for sure be on the look out Callie Kazumi in the future

Claire Darling by Callie Kazumi

This introduces a very disturbing and sad to read dysfunctional family. A verbally and mentally disturbed mother constantly berates and degrades her daughter at every turn growing up. Claire, in response, accepts her mother's assertions as true and spends her years at school as the brunt of all jokes and bullies. It's a terrible life that she accepts as her fate.
As she matures and sees how other people live, she realizes that to change her circumstances she has to make a plan. She works, saves every dime and then leaves home with a bare bones nest egg. She's on her own.
It's hard to meet people in her meager grocery job but one day her prince arrived in the wine aisle looking for help: handsome, smart, kind and she is smitten. They go for coffee and talk for hours. Dates, trips, gifts all come her way with this love of her life and the reader is all consumed with her happiness until you see cracks in the facade.
The reader learns more about this knight in shining armor. Claire discovers he is dating others, he won't introduce her to his friends, he posts on FB with other women. Claire is now on the hunt as to why...he is her fiancé! They live together!
It's here that storyline moves at warp speed for the reader. Who is this guy, why is he ghosting the girl he is engaged to, why does she discover he does not exist at his job when she stops by. Claire and her only friend become sleuths following his every move, confronting him and his friends.
The tension and intrigue builds to an engrossing series of events that lead to a sad, albeit obvious outcome for Claire. The reader may see it coming, but the final chapters are as sad as the first.
The book is as much an eduction in the depths of mental illness as it is a memorable read.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC!


3.5/5 Stars rounded up

Claire, Darling by Callie Kazumi is one of those books that has a lot of potential but doesn’t fully stick the landing. The premise is intriguing — a woman digging through the wreckage of her family’s past while dealing with her own messy emotions — and Kazumi’s writing has some really beautiful, thoughtful moments. There are passages that genuinely stopped me for a second because of how well they captured a feeling or memory.

That said, the pacing is a bit all over the place. Some parts feel like they drag forever, while others rush through things I actually wanted more of. A few side characters seemed like they were going to be important, but then they kind of faded out without much resolution. It left the story feeling a little unfinished in spots.

I also wish there had been more tension or urgency in the plot. The book leans heavily on atmosphere and introspection, which is fine if that’s your thing — but I found myself wishing for a little more action or clearer stakes now and then.

Overall, it’s a solid, well-written debut with some flaws. If you like slow-burn, reflective stories about family secrets and personal regrets, it’s worth a read. Just go in knowing it’s a bit uneven.

I read a lot of thrillers, and the setup for Claire, Darling pulled me in immediately.

The story starts with Claire, who thinks she’s surprising her fiancé with lunch on their anniversary. Instead, she discovers he doesn’t work where he said he did, and he has a whole other life with another woman. As Claire searches for answers, her unraveling leads straight into the darker corners of her past (especially her fractured relationship with her mother).

This one is dark, twisty, and unputdownable. Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Bantam, and NetGalley for the ARC.

This book begins with Claire and her fiancé Noah celebrating their first anniversary. After a chance meeting while purchasing some wine, the two are now engaged and living together. After a great night celebrating together, the next day Claire decides to bring Noah some lunch at his office. She and her friend Sukhi are in for a surprise when they arrive, though. The receptionist won’t let them through, saying that Noah hasn’t worked in the building for months.

Of course Claire texts, then calls him, but he is completely ignoring her. She and Sukhi do some internet sleuthing, and find social media profiles that Claire didn’t know existed. She finds out where he works now, and she also finds a picture of him with a gorgeous blonde woman. Then it hits her: the man she is engaged to has a whole other life. He’s lied to her. He’s embarrassed her. He’s crushed her. Now answers are needed…and we get them with an ending I predicted, but still enjoyed reading.

The book is mostly about Claire trying to find out the truth, but we also have her diary entries from the past year that tell us more about how this relationship played out. The story also slips to the past at times, and speaks of her childhood with an alcoholic, abusive mother. This debut novel was slightly predictable, but quite enjoying. Four stars!

(Thank you to Random House - Ballantine, Callie Kazumi and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.)