It takes a ghosting nightmare and turns it into a dark, gripping psychological thriller. With an original premise, a complex (if not always likable) protagonist, and a slow-burn tension that builds to a shocking climax, this book kept me hooked from start to finish. While seasoned thriller readers might spot the twists coming, that didn’t make the journey any less entertaining. The shifting subgenre halfway through was a game-changer, adding a fresh, unexpected layer that set it apart. If you love psychological suspense with a hint of B.A. Paris vibes, this one’s a must-read. 5 stars for being impossible to put down!

Really enjoyed this book! I think it’s one of those reads where you just don’t see what’s coming and that makes it such a fun read!

This was a gripping debut novel that I read in one sitting. Psychological thriller told in the present with flashbacks to a miserable mother-daughter relationship. While there is no denying there were a few big twists I have to admit I was expecting one more reveal at the end that didn’t come. Overall would highly recommend to lovers of the genre and can’t wait to see what else this author puts out.

Claire Darling is a twisty thriller about a woman whose fiancé ghosts her the day after their anniversary. As she delves into what happened, she discovers he lives a double life. Interspersed with her quest to understand the trajectory of her relationship are memories of the abuse she experienced at the hands of her mother.

Claire Darling was entertaining and kept my attention, but the "twist" wasn't all that surprising. It was a quick read, but nothing earth-shattering.

This book absolutely took me OUT and I couldn’t put it down. I finished this one up back in February but have still be very behind on posting. Claire, Darling is easily going to end up in my top 5 thrillers for the year as I loved everything about it.

The tone of this one, told in alternating snippets of present day and past diary entries from Claire, led to a whirlwind pace that I couldn’t get enough of. For this being a debut I am absolutely blown away.

As someone who reads a lot of thrillers - these books can get a bit predictable sometimes. Not this one! Claire, Darling had me questioning everything (including my own sanity) while reading.

I truly can’t wait to see what Kazumi puts out next. Check this one out if you love thrillers, twists, and books you can’t put down!

**Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam Books for the ARC of this insane title!**

I thoroughly enjoyed this twisty thriller from the start! Claire’s fiance has disappeared and she goes down a dark path trying to find him.

Thank you to Minotaur Books and PRH Audio for the copies to review.

Well this was quite an enjoyable thriller, with a couple of twists that while I saw coming, I really enjoyed nonetheless. The audio was great, and this thriller appears on the surface about ghosting but is more than that, and it is really a fantastic debut. I thoroughly enjoyed this one, and found that I could not stop listening once this got started, I had to know how it was going to end. I’m really looking forward to seeing what Kazumi writes next.

Thank you to NetGalley and random house for the opportunity to read this book. I read it so quickly. I found myself wanting to finish and having a hard time putting it down. I loved the author’s writing and look forward to her second book.

🅡 🅔 🅥 🅘 🅔 🅦

𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ★ ★ ★ ★
𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪:

I thought that this was a great fast paced psychological thriller and I enjoyed it from start to finish. This will absolutely keep you on your toes with each twist and turn. We get to have Claires POV in this read and we also have swapping timelines which I enjoy.

This was overall a very well written book that will have you thinking all the way to the last page and the ending will leave you gasping! Scoop up this fantastic read if you’re looking for fast paced and thrilling, definitely recommend.

Huge thank you to our Author, NetGalley as well as Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Bantam

𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦: Thriller, Two Part Timelines, Fast Paced

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Claire’s life unravels when she discovers her fiancé, Noah, has been leading a double life with another woman. This revelation propels Claire into a desperate search for answers, forcing her to confront a traumatic past dominated by a manipulative mother. As her obsession deepens, Claire becomes entangled in a web of deceit and danger, blurring the lines between reality and delusion. Kazumi masterfully explores themes of love, betrayal, and the haunting nature of unresolved trauma, delivering a taut narrative that keeps readers on edge until the final page.

I absolutely loved this book! I finished it in a day and could NOT put it down! The mystery of the plot is all over the place, in a good way. I wasn’t sure what path of “twist guessing” to take. The background of the characters were well developed and the story had a very fast pace. However, the reason I gave it only 3 stars is because I believe the “unreliable narrator” trope could have been written better. It has been done so many times before and I was disappointed about how this one was written, but the ride is definitely worth it! Plus, there are extra mini twists at the end that make up for it. I also loved how the author wrote the flashback scenes and gave the character and her mother a solid foundation. Books about childhood trauma are a bit triggering for me, but this was done very well and accurate about how trauma can affect a person’s mental and emotional state even in their adulthood. This book, although could have done better in one major area, was still fun to read and see everything play out.

Claire, Darling by Callie Kazumi was published on March 11, 2025 by Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine / Bantam. It opens with Claire finding out that her fiancé, Noah, isn't working where he said he was and is now ghosting her. Claire must find out why.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine / Bantam for providing me with an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of Claire Darling by Callie Kazumi for free in exchange for my honest review. I was absolutely thrilled when my request for a copy was approved because the synopsis was so good.

From the beginning, I absolutely loved the main character of Claire and her work friend named Sukhi. Throughout the novel, we learn about Claire's past and how terrible her mother was towards her. I kept hoping that somehow we would learn who Claire's father was and would eventually connect with him. It's really no wonder Claire had no self confidence as an adult, but I really empathized with her and liked her.

Sukhi is the best friend that a woman could ask for! She always has Claire's back no matter what and sticks by her. I disliked Noah immensely. He's a complete jerk who is constantly cheating on everyone! As for Lilah, you couldn't exactly blame her for the way she acted and didn't deserve what happened to her.

Throughout the entire story, I was totally team Claire and was rooting for her. That is until the end of the book, which totally blindsided me. I dislike unreliable characters intensely. I know this is a bit of a spoiler, but I have to mention this was the reason I ended up giving Claire, Darling by Callie Kazumi only four stars out of five stars ... well, that and I hate bad endings. It gave off vibes of The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins and Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. Up until the ending, I was completely enchanted with the story and couldn't wait to find out what happened.

Claire, Darling is a pretty strong debut by Callie Kazumi. If you love an unreliable narrator, you will love Claire (darling). Clearly having suffered trauma from Mother (calling her mum is too common, darling), Claire has carved out a life for herself in London. The ghosts of her childhood never far behind, readers are shown some of the more disturbing events in Claire's life through the use of numerous flashbacks and memories. Forging ahead, Claire is engaged to Noah, has a new job she enjoys and is starting to build a life for herself she never thought possible. Her diary entries detail her relationship with Noah and also hint that Mother passed away a year ago. While Claire worries her relationship with Noah may have moved a little fast, she's excited about being engaged and celebrating their one-year anniversary. Until everything goes wrong: Claire brings him lunch and is told Noah hasn't worked there in months; so where is he going every morning? She discovers he blocked her on social media (yet told her he doesn't even have Facebook) and she discovers there's another women. Claire, determined to understand why Noah is doing this, becomes increasingly obsessed and her grasp on reality is slipping. This is a fast-paced psychological thriller, with some twists readers may not see coming. The ending was a little sudden and with more development this would have been 4-4.5 stars. (3.5 stars).

Thank you to the NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

This book ask the question about nurture vs. nature. Are we a product of our environment or of our genetics. In this book the author did such a great job of keeping the reader in the dark. I was so engrossed in the writing that I did not consider there might be something else going on with Claire. I related with Claire about her mother because I too, had an awful childhood. Childhood trauma can be very detrimental to a person especially when learning how to move within society. It is hard to pick up cues given by others. The author did a phenomenal job with the twist. I never expected any of what happened in the last few pages of the book. For a debut novel, this was exceptional.

Obsessive love! Drama! If you love the diss songs of Taylor Swift (guilty) and have a vengeful side (guilty) then this book will be perfect for you. Claire is happily engaged, until her fiancé ghosts her. Well, she's not taking that! Twisty and surprising and perfect for those who like their characters a little unhinged!

Thank you NetGalley, the author, and Random House Publishing – Ballantine for the ARC.
📅 Pub Date: March 11, 2025 – Out Now!

Claire’s day starts off like any other—until it doesn’t. She’s excited to surprise her fiancé, Noah, with lunch at work… only to find out he no longer works there. No notice, no explanation. Just gone. Calls go straight to voicemail. Texts are left on read. It’s as if he never existed.

But Claire refuses to be ghosted. Fueled by confusion, betrayal, and a creeping sense of dread, she begins searching for answers. What she finds? A web of secrets that make her question everything she thought she knew about the man she was ready to spend forever with. And the worst part? She’s not sure she’s ready for the truth.

.
Twisty. Gripping. Completely unputdownable.

Told primarily through Claire’s eyes, this thriller pulls you deep into the unraveling of her perfect life. As she digs into Noah’s disappearance, the tension tightens like a noose—flashbacks to her past trauma add layers of unease, while diary entries reveal a love story that may have never been real.

Then, BAM! Midway through, a shocking event flips everything on its head. From there, the pace skyrockets, each chapter hitting harder than the last. While I managed to guess a few key twists, the journey was anything but predictable. The second half is a wild, fast-paced thrill ride that had me flying through the pages.

Claire’s obsession with Noah made me want to shake her at times, but that’s what made this book so compelling—her desperation, her blind devotion, her refusal to accept the truth staring her in the face. It’s messy. It’s intense. And it’s so addicting.

It's a 4/ 5 – A razor-sharp debut that kept me hooked! Can’t wait to see what Callie Kazumi writes next.

3.5/5!

Thriller fans that are looking for a quick and immersive read are going to enjoy this one!

Meet Claire: her fiance has just mysteriously decided to ghost her.

She thought she knew where he worked. She thought she knew his schedule. She thought she knew him.

As readers tag along with Claire to unpack Noah’s lies and the truth behind their relationship they’re met with a lot of convoluted details. How could Claire have been so wrong about Noah? Where will things end up?

I did manage to guess the ending to this story, but it absolutely didn’t stop me from hanging on to the end of each chapter to find out if I was right or not.

Solid debut and I’ll be keeping my eye out for more from Kazumi!

I feel like Claire, Darling was severely underrated! This was such a fun read, and I liked the bouncing between timelines from when Claire met Noah, to present day, to the flashbacks of Claire‘s past with her insanely narcissistic mother.

Without giving too much away, I loved watching everything unravel toward the end of the book. And speaking of the ending: how delightful! I would love to see a sequel to this twisty, psychological thriller😉

This was a very short book, and a quick read. There wasn’t too much “backstory”, we jumped right into the action — which is my fave type of story!

A solid 4 star read!!

I thought this was a really well written debut novel! I was able to guess the twists, but I chalk that up to the amount of thrillers that I've read over the past 40 years or so. I think someone new to the thriller genre will just love this one! I still really enjoyed it, especially the courtroom scene at the end! I'll definitely be interested in reading this author's next book!

3.5 stars rounded

My recommendation is to go in to Claire, Darling completely blind, which is what I did, and it really maximized the good time I had with this book. All you need to know, really, is that Claire has been ghosted by her fiancé, Noah, which leads her down a path of obsession that has some surprising revelations waiting at the end.

This is an impressive debut novel for Callie Kazumi; I found it completely riveting and read it in just a few sittings because I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next. Despite her many questionable choices, Claire is an extremely sympathetic character – largely due to a childhood spent suffering at the hands of her narcissistic, emotionally abusive mother. I do wish Claire’s mother had been portrayed with a bit more nuance; I would have liked to learn more about what motivated her behavior, not just how it affected Claire.

Seasoned thriller readers will likely guess the direction things are going, but something happened mid-book that I didn’t see coming – and there is a savage little epilogue that left me incredibly satisfied. Even if it’s a somewhat predictable take on a familiar story, Kazumi executes it perfectly, with just the right amount of unhinged fun. Thank you to Bantam for the complimentary reading opportunity.

Thank you to NetGalley & Random House Publishing Group for the chance to read this book!!

This was a great fast paced thriller for me, I was hooked from the beginning, and even though reading about things like court and trials usually lose me in all the technical talk, even that portion was bearable and I got through it just a few hours! The ending was a bit of slap in the face, I mean after reading all of that I was like what the...... but I mean there really was no other way for it to get wrapped up in a cute little bow (& those fun grippy socks for her)! But you were left wondering which was the real truth and I'm still not sure I figured it out! Not a lot of books surprise me so I think I'll keep wondering! I will be adding this Author to my follow list and def be on the look out for more for her!!