Dying to Meet You was a fun thriller about a woman named Rowan who finds her ex dead and then becomes involved in the case. There was some slow spots and some twists. Overall the writing was amazing and the ending was great.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Paperbacks Publishing for the ARC of Dying to Meer You, by Sarina Bowen. I really enjoyed this story about Rowan and architect who is contracted to work on an historic mansion. The mansion’s history is very concerning, workers at the site claim to see ghosts, and then one night Tim, Rowan’s ex is killed in the parking lot. Who killed Tim, what significance is it that he was killed by the mansion? A fast paced thriller you are sure to enjoy!

While I love the Portland setting and the gorgeous historic mansion, the story didn't read like the suspenseful thriller I expected. The mystery took too long to get moving, and the plot lines around Rowan's job and daughter just didn't hold my attention. I'm so bummed that this was a DNF for me, but it looks like it's a strong fit for many other reviewers.

read if you like:
🏰 haunted mansions
👥 family dramas
🗣️ whodunnits

summary:
This book quickly became one of my favorite reads of 2024! It tells the story of Rowen Gallagher, a single mother and architect overseeing the restoration of a historic mansion for a wealthy, influential family in Maine. Fresh out of a relationship with a man named Tim, Rowen struggles to move on, obsessively checking his location on the FindFriend app and wondering if he’s already replaced her. One fateful evening, in a moment of impulsivity, she decides to “accidentally” run into him. She takes her dog for a walk toward the mansion, where she believes Tim is, only to stumble upon a chilling discovery—Tim, murdered in his car. His death triggers an intense police investigation, and Rowen becomes entangled in the case. Determined to clear her name and seek justice for Tim, she dives headfirst into the mystery, uncovering far more than she expected.

The description can’t even adequately describe how good this story is. It alternates POV’s between Rowen, Natalie, her daughter and one of the homeowner’s assistants. There are multiple storylines running throughout the book — Tim’s murder, the return of Natalie’s ex-con father from prison, and the assistant’s dynamic with her boss, all of which I loved. I also loved the relationship between Rowen and Natalie, and the mother-daughter dynamics. For someone with a lot of empathy, this book hits hard — and really forces you to think about, on what terms would you have or not have empathy for someone’s journey? There are so many red herrings throughout the book but you will NOT see the end coming. It’s brilliantly told, explained and backed up, and as someone who loves a well thought out ending, this book did it for me!

Thanks so much to Harper Perennial and Paperbacks and NetGalley for the advanced copy, and you absolutely need to read this when it releases on May 12!

I really liked the Five Year Lie so I was excited to read this new one! It was really good. Definitely a good mystery read. I will continue to read Sarina Bowen’s books!

DYING TO MEET YOU is a carefully plotted and thoroughly engaging thriller. The pacing feels slightly off (could have been tighter/shorter), and at times I questioned what Rowan was doing, but overall these issues did not detract from my enjoyment of the book. Bowen's writing is consistently entertaining and the ending is satisfying. I recommend this novel for fans of suspense novels and thrillers.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-galley; all opinions in my review are 100% my own.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks | Harper Paperbacks for allowing me access to this ebook! I loved this year previous book so this one was on my TBR for next year and I was not disappointed!
Rowan Gallagher, a single mom and architect, is struggling to move on from her ex, resorting to stalking his whereabouts online. One night, curiosity gets the better of her, and she becomes the first witness to his murder—and the prime suspect. As Rowan fights to clear her name, she uncovers unsettling truths about her ex, including his obsession with her life. Now, she must unravel a dangerous conspiracy before she becomes the next victim.
This thriller had me hooked from the very first chapter! The plot was gripping, and the way the author brought Portland to life was incredible. Just like in her debut, the setting feels so vivid and real—even though I’ve never been to Maine!

thank you net galley for the arc copy of this book. things i liked about the book, the pacing, the tension.loved the eerie mystery vibes. never read any thing by this author but i enjoyed this story.

I really enjoyed reading this book, it had me on the edge of my seat from the first page and was hooked with what was going on. I thought it was a great domestic thriller novel and had that character development perfectly. Sarina Bowen has a strong writing style and was invested in what was going on. I enjoyed getting to read this and am excited for more.

Rowan Gallagher is a devoted single mother and a talented architect with a high profile commission restoring an historic mansion for the most powerful family in Maine. But inside, she’s a mess. She knows that stalking her ex’s avatar all over Portland on her phone isn't the healthiest way to heal from their breakup. But she’s out of ice cream and she's sick of romcoms. Watching his every move is both fascinating and infuriating. He's dining out while she's wallowing on the couch. The last straw comes when he parks in their favorite spot on the waterfront. In a weak moment, she leashes the dog and sets off to see who else is in his car. Instead of catching her ex in a kiss, Rowan becomes the first witness to his murder and the primary suspect! Great read! This book had great suspense, murder, mystery, fascinating characters, intriguing, a great who done it and some wild twists and turns! The story was very interesting! I highly recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

’m used to Bowen’s romances, so this was a new genre for me. The book started off strong and had me hooked from the start. I paid attention to everyone, trying to figure out who killed the ex boyfriend, Tim. Was it somehow Rowan? Natalie? The Wincotts? Somewhere halfway through, the pacing fell off for me. It was a really long build up, for everything to be wrapped up fairly quickly. I wasn’t totally invested in the reason or story behind why Tim was killed. This wasn’t a bad novel at all, I just prefer a little more action and twists. Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Oh-em-gee, you guys! This book was such a wild ride—like, totally twisty and so unputdownable! The main character? A total hot mess express in the most relatable way. But then, BAM, murder mystery vibes kick in, and it’s all secrets, lies, and “Wait, WHAT?” moments. 🤯

The pacing was like, chef’s kiss—fast enough to keep me flipping pages but still juicy with all the tension and drama. And can we talk about the plot? Every time I thought I had it figured out, there was another twist. Like, hello, curveballs! I was living for it. 🙌

The vibes were totally eerie, especially with Rowan spiraling deeper into this shadowy mystery. And the mansion setting? So atmospheric! I just wish I had a little more closure on some details, but honestly, that’s just me being picky. It kept me guessing till the end, and I was SO here for it. 💁‍♀️

Big thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. Four stars, and like, totally recommend if you’re into thrillers with strong but flawed heroines and drama that’ll keep you glued to the page! 📚✨

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for providing this book, with my honest review below.

Dying to Meet You was perfect as a rainy weekend read, going a step further than most popcorn thrillers by setting an eerie mood and a premise any good armchair detective or scorned woman could get caught up in. Rowan, an architect for a historic and rumored to be haunted mansion, finds herself ghosted by the first guy she has dated in 15 years. So when the temptation to check in on him when her find my friends shows him nearby (in fact at the mansion she works at) presents itself she leans in, only to find him murdered.

The story slowly unfurls leaving you wondering who was part of the murder and unveiling several mysteries along the way. For those who like supernatural tones in a story but not the whole focus on that, this one packs a punch at the end that you won’t see coming (while generally not really being a ghost story), but which requires reading the book in full to appreciate.

Loved the story and really enjoyed the Portland, Maine setting as I recently visited and had fun trying to revisit the general area. My only critique is that the ending had (almost) everything falling into place rather quickly after a great slow build up.

Rowan Gallagher stalks her ex,Tim, by following his avatar on her phone and seeing his whereabouts at all times. But when she becomes a suspect in his sudden death, she has to find out what really happened. An architect, Rowan is helping to renovate an old mansion that used to be a home for pregnant girls in the 1930s. She wonders if Tim, who was found shot in front of the mansion, is connected to one of those girls in some way.

An interesting plot with a likeable character, Rowan, made this a good thriller. The killer revealed at the end was a surprise. The descriptions of the city of Portland, Maine, also added to my enjoyment of the novel. .