I enjoyed this but I didn't love it. I didn't love the multiple points of view and narration style, but the story definitely had lots of plot twists and shocking moments.

I absolutely loved Sarina Bowen’s last book, so I dove into Dying to Meet You with high expectations—and I’m happy to say it did not disappoint!

Rowan Gallagher is a hardworking single mom and a talented architect with a major project: restoring a historic mansion for one of Maine’s most influential families. But beneath her composed exterior, Rowan is quietly falling apart. Still reeling from a tough breakup, she’s taken to obsessively tracking her ex’s avatar around Portland. It’s not her proudest moment—but heartbreak, ice cream shortages, and too many romcoms will do that to a person.

Things take a dark and unexpected turn when Rowan, in a moment of weakness, goes to confront her ex in person—only to witness his murder. Suddenly, she's not just heartbroken; she's the prime suspect in a homicide investigation.

But that’s just the beginning. As Rowan tries to clear her name, she uncovers a disturbing truth: the man she once loved was stalking her. He knew things he shouldn't have—about her job, her past, and even her child. The deeper she digs, the more tangled the web becomes, and it’s clear someone wants to keep the truth buried.

Taut, twisty, and emotionally gripping, Dying to Meet You delivers suspense with a personal edge. Rowan is a relatable, flawed, and fierce protagonist, and the mystery unfolds in ways I didn’t see coming. Bowen balances the psychological tension with sharp character insight and just enough humor to keep it grounded.

If you’ve enjoyed Sarina Bowen before, you’ll find this thriller every bit as satisfying—and if you’re new to her work, this is a fantastic place to start. I couldn’t put it down!

From the moment I read the synopsis, I knew this book had all the ingredients for a fantastic read: rich people behaving badly? Check. Scandal? Check. A tangled web of secrets and lies? Check. And a second-chance romance? Double check! I was not disappointed.

Rowan, Natalie, and Harrison are authentic and relatable, creating a dynamic that keeps you invested in their journey. This estranged family is thrown into chaos as they try to uncover the truth behind the murder, and the unexpected twists kept me guessing until the very end. I found myself rooting for them to reconnect amid the turmoil.

The setting is another highlight of the story. The eerie, haunted Wincott mansion, with its hidden secrets and ghostly presence, adds a thrilling layer of suspense that enhances the overall experience. You can practically feel the atmosphere come alive as you turn the pages.

Don’t miss this twisty, binge-worthy thriller! If you enjoyed Sarina Bowen’s thriller debut, The Five Year Lie, then Dying to Meet You is an absolute must-read.

As soon as I saw that Sarina Bowen had another book out I as SO excited. Her last book had me captivated, and I really hoped this one would to. And Bowen did NOT disappoint.

Rowan is just trying to live her life. She's an architect and working on a mansion for a well to do family, and she's the single mom of a teenage daughter; enough said! When the man she's been dating suddenly ends up dead, all eyes are on Rowan; after all, she's been using an app to stalk him.

This book! I started out kind of disliking Rowan - she's unsure of herself and her self-talk was absolutely awful. However, as I got to know her better I realized why she is the way she is. And when they mystery starts to unravel, I started to realize how much I loved Rowan's mama bear nature.

I loved the different layers of this book. It's starts off easy enough - woman's heart is broken, woman does something a little crazy, woman gets blamed for the murder of her ex. But as the story wore on, I loved how many different pieces of the puzzle all started to come together to give us the final story.

For most of this book I couldn't quite figure out what was going on. I did guess the killer right before they were revealed, but it didn't take away from the climax of the book.

I finished this in one day and I wish I could go back and do it again. Get your hands on this book!

I really liked this one! I binged in a day. I liked that there were two mysteries happening simultaneously, even though they connected at the end. It also shows how creepy tracking apps can be!

𝔹𝕠𝕠𝕜 ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Read if you love:
🚨 Domestic suspense
🚨 Mother/ daughter relationships
🚨 Second chance romances
🚨 Family drama
🚨 Portland, Maine setting

Rowen works at a historic mansion in Portland, Maine, when her life suddenly takes a dark turn—the guy who recently broke things off with her is found dead. As the investigation unfolds, Rowen is pulled deeper into the case and the chilling secrets buried within the mansion’s past.

This was a solid, twisty thriller set in one of my favorite places! I loved how the past and present timelines intertwined as it was fun piecing them together. Loved the multiple POVs (which I don’t always), and I was all in for the second chance romance woven into the plot. Rowen was such a great character, and the history with her ex, along with the journey of learning to trust him again, added an extra layer of depth.

Thank you NetGalley, the author, and publisher for the arc.

Rowen Gallagher has a lot of things going well for her work-wise; I mean, it's not every day that an architect gets to restore a famous old mansion for a prestigious "old money" family. As for her personal life, though... well, let's just say that Rowen knows stalking her recent ex's location on the Find My app is not the healthiest thing in the world but she's only just passingly curious. Until her ex's location seems to be at her work and when she goes to confront him, he is more than a little dead. And now she's the prime suspect in his murder case! Full of family drama, secrets, betrayals, and a touch of second-chance romance, Dying to Meet You is the perfect domestic thriller you need to read this summer.

It is rare that I give thrillers five stars, but in this case, it is well-deserved! The plot is very well thought out and full of enough twists to keep you guessing up to the very end. The characters all are very well-developed too, which can sometimes be hard to find in thrillers and mysteries, so that definitely makes it well worth the read in my opinion. If you like old houses with dark secrets, family tension and drama set in coastal Maine, then you should pick this one up!

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Perennial for the eARC for review consideration - all thoughts and opinions are my own!

This one had an intriguing premise with a strong start—single mom accidentally witnessing her ex’s murder? Count me in. But while the suspense and setting pulled me in, the pacing lagged at times, and some twists felt more confusing than compelling. A decent read with a creative setup, just didn’t quite stick the landing.

Told in 3 POV that you dont find how they connect until the end. Started off strong and got really slow in the middle.

Fast paced and cleverly plotted, with excellent characters. Loved the mansion setting with its bad vibes, and the rest of Portland is vivid though this story.

A compelling thriller from Sarina Bowen. I thoroughly enjoyed jumping from small town and hockey romance from Bowen into this domestic thriller. I loved how this story was told from various point of views and always kept you on your toes. Twists that were unexpected and intriguing characters made this an utterly enjoyable read. Can't wait for more like this from Bowen! Stellar storytelling as always

Along with thriller in which I am surprised by the trajectory of the story. This book pulls him in from the beginning, and has you guessing from start to finish. All of the characters are complicated and make you really think about what their motivations are throughout the story. It’s entertaining and very suspenseful from start to finish.

I enjoyed this thriller about Rowan. She is a single mother of a teenager and is an architect. After her boyfriend dumps her suddenly she finds him murdered . While trying to find his killer she uncovers secrets in the mansion she is renovating.

This book took me a minute to get into. The pacing felt a bit off for me, but once the ball started rolling it was rolling.
My favorite character of this book? The mansion with a sordid past that used to house unwed mothers.
Loved everything about the artwork descriptions, the details of the historic mansion, and the landscape of the northeast. The whole book was so picturesque.
I enjoyed the relationships between the main character and her daughter. The ever evolving romance between the main character and her ex husband was giving mini romcom vibes, and I didn’t even mind.
All in all I really enjoyed this one.
Thank you netgalley for this copy!

I was very excited to receive an advanced copy of “Dying to Meet You”. This was a unique story and had me engaged from the beginning.

This was a really good read and I think it had a decent writing style and story! Would recommend to anyone looking for next read !!!

This started with a steady pace that gradually accelerated the further it went. Told from multiple perspectives, this twisted web of a tale was abundant with lies, deceit, and tension. The protagonist was relatable and intriguing and fully dimensional. The plot was delivered perfectly, and the reveals were unpredictable. Overall, this was a compelling mystery that sinks its teeth into you. Four stars.

Thank you, Netgalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks, for this ARC.

Dying to Meet You by Sarina Bowen is a mystery book. Quite a slow buildup but when it picks up, the suspense and twists were well done. I especially liked the ending.
I received a complimentary copy from Harper Perennial and Paperbacks via Netgalley. Opinions expressed are mine

Book Review: Dying to Meet You by Sarina Bowen

Sarina Bowen, best known for her emotionally resonant romances, returns with her second foray into the world of suspense—and Dying to Meet You confirms she’s just as compelling when the stakes involve murder rather than love.

This twisty, atmospheric thriller follows Rowan Gallagher, a single mother and skilled architect trying to rebuild her life after a difficult breakup. Tasked with restoring a grand, crumbling mansion for Maine’s most powerful family, Rowan is barely holding it together when she impulsively tracks her ex’s whereabouts via an app. But what starts as an embarrassing emotional low point takes a deadly turn—she arrives at their old favorite spot just in time to witness his murder.

Worse, Rowan quickly becomes the prime suspect. As she scrambles to clear her name, she unearths disturbing truths about the man she thought she knew—and about the sinister interest he had in her life. With mounting tension, eerie secrets lurking in the mansion, and the growing realization that someone may still be watching her, Bowen delivers a thriller that’s hard to put down.

Rowan is a refreshingly flawed and relatable heroine—sharp, driven, and increasingly desperate as the layers of deception peel away. The supporting cast is just as intriguing, and the old house setting adds a gothic edge that fans of domestic thrillers will appreciate. The mystery is tightly plotted and offers plenty of surprises to keep even seasoned readers guessing.

Though only her second mystery, Bowen proves she has a real talent for suspense. Dying to Meet You blends emotional depth with chilling intrigue, making it a standout in the genre.

Verdict:
Smart, suspenseful, and emotionally resonant, Dying to Meet You is a page-turner that delivers both thrills and heart. Highly recommended for fans of Lisa Jewell, Alice Feeney, or Ruth Ware.

I loved this one! Rowan Gallagher is a likeable single mom who is also a talented architect. She has taken a high pressure job restoring a scary, historic mansion for a powerful and wealthy family. But when her ex turns up murdered and her other ex becomes a suspect, Rowan is racing to find answers because the police keep noticing the common denominator in all of these crimes is her.
Struggling to clear her name, protect her daughter, and get the answers she needs, Rowan finds herself stumbling across the dangerous information that killed him. You won’t be able to put this one down!