I really enjoyed this one! It started off really slow, in fact, I nearly gave up on it around 20% in (which is why I gave it 4 stars) but I am so glad that I stuck with it!! Once the story picks up, it takes off and never slows down. This was one of the most in-depth thrillers I have ever read. There was so much history to learn, puzzle pieces to fit together and the build up was superb. The twist is one that I didn't see coming either. A brilliant story by Sarina, definitely recommend it!

Dying to Meet You by Sarina Bowen is a very highly recommended mystery with Gothic vibes that follows the structure of a procedural with a little romance thrown in on the side.

Rowan Gallagher is an architect who is working for Hank Wincott on the restoration of the family's historic mansion in Portland, Maine. She works closely with Hank's assistant Beatrice. Rowan is still hurt that reporter Tim Novak recently broke up with her via text and she's been tracking his movements using an app. When she sees his car is parked nearby, outside the Wincott mansion, she takes her dog out for a walk, expecting to find him with someone else. Instead she finds him in his car, dead. Tim was shot and Rowan is on the police's list of the main suspects. She begins to undertake an investigation on her own.

The narrative is told through three points-of-view in alternating chapters. Rowan is the main voice. Rowan is a fully realized, complex character who has both strengths and weaknesses. The other two points-of-view are Rowan's 16-year-old daughter, Natalie, and Hanks young secretary, Coralie.

Natalie never liked Tim, but she also saw things she didn't tell her mother. She and her mother have a believable mother/daughter relationship. Hank is exploiting Coralie. Even the mansion itself is a character as it is reported to be haunted and the restoration crew are uncovering suggestive murals and disturbing graffiti. Then Harrison, Rowan's ex and Natalie's father is discovered to be in the area.

While the opening is even paced, my appreciation of the novel increased with each subsequent chapter as Rowan uncovered new information and looked into what Tim was investigating. The alternating viewpoints work very well to propel the plot forward and introduce fresh leads and discoveries. The plotting is intricate and progresses with each new discovery. Personally, I could have done without the romance included and stuck with finding clues to solve the mystery of who murdered Tim. The ending is riveting. 4.5 rounded up.

Dying to Meet You is a good choice for those who enjoy mysteries with a little added romance. Thanks to HarperCollins for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The review will be published on Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

Thank you to both #NetGalley and Harper Perennial for providing me an advance copy of Sarina Bowen's latest #domesticthriller, Dying to Meet You, in exchange for an honest review.

#DyingtoMeetYou is fast-paced thriller set in Maine, involving the restoration of a prominent shipping family's mansion and the murders associated with the dreary estate.

Rowan Gallagher is a single mom and architect who is restoring a historic mansion for a high-profile family from Portland, the Wincotts. Reeling from a break-up with her less than three-months-old beau, Tim, who happens to be a reporter for the WSJ, she decides to stalk his whereabouts via a tracking app. Angry that he would take a new date to their "spot" in front of her place of work, she instead finds his corpse, making her Portland PD's number one suspect in his murder.

This novel shares many of the same gripes I had with the author's previous release, #TheFiveYearLie. The premise is there, but the execution is sorely lacking. Rein in the number of character perspectives, stick to one or two subplots as opposed to five tenuous, don't use a dog or teenager as a crutch, and for the love of G-d, please buy a thesaurus. Surely, there are more ways to say someone's eyes are "gritty" from crying.

Despite the above rant, still open to reading a future novel penned by the author in the hopes that the third time will be a charm.

Dying to Meet You is the second thriller written by Sarina Bowen. As one of my favourite romance authors she been able to (in my opinion) make the seamless transition to thriller author!

Rowan Gallagher finds her ex boyfriend Tim Novak dead, murdered in front of the historic house she’s been restoring. Problem is that since they broke up she’s been digitally stalking him. So now she’s a witness and the prime suspect in his murder.

The site of Tim’s murder is a former home for unwed mothers, owned by a wealthy family full of secrets, and it’s a place with a sinister past. As Rohan goes searching for answers she finds out that Tim had targeted her. The more she looks into things the more dark and disturbing things seem to become. Everyone has secrets, the tension is building, and Rowan’s life is spiralling out of control…

The ending sees several tangled plots all focus in to the one point. Shockingly identifying who the killer is and why they’ve killed!

SYNOPSIS
-Rowan Gallagher is a single mom and talented architect working on restoring a historic mansion for a super powerful family in Maine.
-Still reeling from a breakup, she makes the very bad decision to stalk her ex’s location on her phone. One night, she gives in to temptation and goes to check out where he’s parked… and finds him dead in his car.
-Now, Rowan’s not just heartbroken—she’s the prime suspect in a murder investigation.
-As she fights to clear her name, Rowan realizes Tim wasn’t who he said he was… and he wasn’t the only one keeping secrets.
⸻
MY THOUGHTS
-I loved the multiple POVs — it made the story feel so layered and kept the tension cranked up the whole time.
-Rowan was such a great MC. Smart, tough, a little bit messy (in the best way), and fiercely protective of her daughter.
-The Belgian Malinois stole my heart. Truly the goodest boy.
-The plotting was expert — it felt like every little breadcrumb along the way mattered, and everything clicked into place by the end.
-So many good twists. It built tension so well without feeling gimmicky.
-Totally engrossing. I kept telling myself “just one more chapter” and then flying through five.
-The pacing was perfect — not rushed, but never dragging. Every chapter added something important.
-The ending was so satisfying. Nothing felt forgotten or thrown in at the last minute. Everything tied together seamlessly.
⸻
TL;DR: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️everything I love in a mystery — smart, fast-paced, perfectly plotted, and full of heart. I couldn’t put it down.
⸻
THANKS: Thanks to Harper Perennial and Paperbacks and Netgalley for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book will be published on May 13, 2025.

3.5 stars

I'm enjoying Sarina Bowen's shift into writing domestic thrillers with a sprinkle of romance. This was another enjoyable page turner that had me trying to piece everything together. Interestingly the novel is told from three point of views - Rowan's, her teenage daughter Natalie and the mysterious young Coralie. While I easily guessed where Coralie fit into this, the final reveal had me surprised. Pace-wise, however, I think that Natalie and Coralie's chapters could've been removed entirely or inserted a couple of times as I felt the slowed down Rowan's arc.

Thanks to Harper Perennial and Paperbacks and NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you to Sarina Bowen, Harper Perennials and Paperback, and Netgalley for the w-arc of Dying To Meet You! Multiple POV thriller. Loved the main character and the setting! I requested this book because I loved The Five Year Lie by the same author! This book publishes on 5/13/25!

This book started off a little slow but when it picked up I was hooked. I like that it told different points of view from the characters in the book. It was a good book but like I said it starts off slow so just stick with it.

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.

But Rowan isn’t the only one keeping secrets. As she digs for the truth, she discovers the dead man was stalking her too, gathering intimate details about her job and her past.

Struggling to clear her name, Rowan finds herself spiraling into the shadowy plot that killed him.

Will she be the next to die?

#DyingtoMeetYou #Netgalley #arc #mystery #thriller #readingismyescap

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Full disclosure- I'm a huge Bowen fan. mostly her hockey romance.

i liked Bowen's thriller last year. Dying to Meet You is certainly a mystery, and there's some romance, but less thriller than her other book. The main character is Rowan, along with her 16 year old daughter Natalie, and there's a mysterious 3rd character, Coralie.

Without giving anything away, the guy Rowan was dating dumps her and ended up dead a few days later. Rowan was following him on her Find a Friend app, so trying to understand what he was up to, she comes across a crime scene and may be implicated in his murder despite a weak motive.

The book explores the downside of drug use, mental health, and forced adoptions in the past to wealthy families. I had an idea of whom the murderer was about halfway into the book, but it didn't ruin my enjoyment. There was a little too much going on at times, and I didn't feel like every mystery was fully wrapped by the end. I think Rowan was wound a little tight, even after finding out some things about her daughter's father. 4/5☆ available May 13, 2025. Buy or get from your library.

I liked the story but I didn't love it. It was a bit too slow but then the end felt too rushed. I just felt there needed to be some shifting done and it would have been great.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this arc.

My first introduction to Sarina Bowen was with her 2024 thriller debut, The Five Year Lie. Following that, I ran to read some of her romances and got absolutely hooked on her writing. I was thrilled to hear that she would be releasing another thriller in 2025, Dying to Meet You. As soon as I got my hands on DTMY, I had to start it instantly.

DTMY was a really interesting spin on a relationship gone bad and how this played into a thriller component - there was also a dual timeline component happening in this one which really intrigued me.

Overall, another really solid, unique thriller from Sarina Bowen!

When looking for an all-consuming thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end, look no further than Dying to Meet You. Sarina Bowen has once again given me a storyline that was incredibly well-crafted and addictive and I had a hard time putting it down. I loved that I was led in several directions as Rowan Gallagher is faced with the death of a man she only dated for a short while yet was the unfortunate one who found him shot to death in front of the mansion where she worked. This talented architect has her hands full with not only restoring the mansion to its former glory while working for a somewhat demanding man but she's also the single mom of a teenager, whose father shows up out of the blue giving her even more headaches to deal with. With the death of Tim Novak the seemingly nucleus for everything that goes down in this book, to say my head was spinning happily trying to devour every clue to this wickedly wonderful puzzle is an understatement. But I loved every mysterious moment.

I have to admit I am truly the worst at solving these kinds of puzzles. As Bowen had me going in several different directions, trying my hardest to figure out who the true killer was became even more intense with each turn of the page. This talented author gives us a few points of view including one very mysterious one who when looking back may have offered up the most answers to this complicated mystery. There is so much going on at the same time and my head and heart hurt for Rowan as she continues to realize that she continues to trust the wrong people. She's doing the best she can with Natalie and yet is always one step behind her spirited daughter. Then there is her ex, Harrison, who has his own burdens to contend with as he only wants to know his Natty and be a real father to her.

With the police constantly questioning Rowan wrt to Tim's murder, fears of the mansion's renovation budget and delays angering her boss, and dealing with Harrison's sudden appearance, it's a wonder this woman didn't have a complete breakdown. I admired her drive, her need to figure out this complicated whodunit and the love she has for those closest to her. Although her circle may be small, she tries her hardest to surround herself with good people, especially those who will be a positive influence on Natalie. But in the end, it's always kind of interesting that those who seem to always be there when needed, are the the true surprise when all is said and done. And I'll just leave it at that.

The ultimate showdown and revelation as to who wanted Tim dead and why was fantastic. The web Bowen created was insanely great. I was put off the scent, so to speak, more than a few times so when the perpetrator is finally revealed, let's just say I was as gobsmacked as Rowan was. But then it all made sense as the mysteries and spirits swirling within the Wincott Mansion offered up much more than just as one originally thought. Which goes to show you that when you start to peel back the layers of paint and wallpaper and rearrange furniture and rooms, sometimes you find much more than just walls keeping a house standing.

I am thrilled that Sarina Bowen has continued this new foray into creating thrillers. This latest from her is one I won't soon forget and has me itching to read it again knowing what I now know about how the jagged little pieces ultimately fit together oh so well. It's sure to be yet another winner for her and I can't wait for the next one.

But in the meantime, I happily give Dying to Meet You, which btw is quite the clever title, a huge 5++ stars!

Dying to Meet You by Sabrina Bowen is a thrilling and heartwarming read that masterfully blends mystery, romance, and wit. Bowen’s engaging characters and clever plot twists keep you hooked from the first page to the last.

Rowan was just dumped and has been watching him on her find a friend app. When she sees he’s parked at their old spot, she takes a walk over there; only to witness his murder and become a suspect.

It took me a little time to get invested in this one but once I did, I was hooked. Please stick with it if you’re not hooked right away. The end gets super exciting and anxiety provoking; you’ll definitely be biting your nails! There’s an interesting mystery subplot that includes a wealthy family and a mysterious mansion, as well as a romance subplot but it takes a third row seat. It’s there just enough to add to the already satisfying conclusion.

“There are different kinds of secrets. There’s the kind that hurt like a hole in your stomach… But there are also secrets that sparkle.”

Dying to Meet You comes out 5/13.

This was a DNF for me unfortunately. I really wanted to love it, as I have loved Sarina'a other series, but I just couldn't get into it.

Surprising and twisty!

Rowan Gallagher is an accomplished architect and single mom. She is also obsessed with her ex and, in her free time, stalks him on her phone app. Things take a dark turn the night she innocently takes her dog for a walk to her ex boyfriend’s nearby current location to see who he may be with and, instead, she finds him DEAD! As the first witness, she is now the prime suspect in his murder. But while Rowan hunts for the truth to clear her name, she discovers that her ex was also stalking HER as well. What is going on? And could she end up dead too?

This was a bit of a slow burn and the ending was a bit rushed but it was a good thriller that I would recommend.

Thank you Netgalley, Harper Perennial and Paperbacks, and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be available for purchase on May 13, 2025

Single mom Rowan stumbles upon the body of her recent ex-boyfriend in the parking lot of the mansion she is in charge of renovating. Now, she is on a mission to find out what happened to him and how it connects to her boss and her daughter's father.

I loved this one! Here's what I loved:

The setting: I really liked the whole town but the historic mansion was such a cool setting. Between the artwork that was being discovered and the creepy vibe the whole place gave. Having the whole story revolve around the house was a smart move!

The romance of it all: Thrillers that have even the hint of romances are right up my alley. This is the second thriller by Bowen that I've read and both had some romance. This one you have a couple of ways it could have gone. I will say that I loved the way it all resolved.

The plot: The mystery in this was really well laid out. There were some twists I saw coming but some that I didn't! All in all, the story was great.

All in all, a great thriller!

Thank you to the author and publisher for the gifted copy!

3.75 stars

This book wasn't bad but it easily could have been better.

Strong start, with our main character happening upon a murder victim, someone she was intimately familiar with. Then the book just stalls. It took me forever to get to 40%. Really slow pacing, really slow buildup, lots of repetition. We could easily trim 30 pages off this book just in the first 40%. I'm not sure what the author was trying to do here, plant seeds of misdirection, get the reader to know Rowan (spoiler alert, she's not that deep,) just write filler? Natalie, her daughter, has a few chapters and her first chapter, looking back on it, is really confusing, like purposely so. I'm gonna go with misdirection, I think that was the attempt with this section.

I felt like once Harrison was in the picture, the story picked up and was more enjoyable overall. Maybe because we got the barest hint of romance, which I know the author can write.

I didn't predict the killer's identity and while that confrontation was a bit off the rails and a bit out of left field, I did enjoy it.

Overall, I feel like if the author is going to continue to write thrillers/suspense novels she needs to decide which direction to go. Popcorn thrillers are fast paced, entertaining, and kind of far reaching, think Freida McFadden. Your more serious thrillers are entirely plot driven, usually with complicated tangled POV's that create that misdirection that surprises you in the end. I think the author could do well with romantic/erotic suspense, as I think that genre is really under represented. I will give this author another chance on the thriller circuit, but I need to be wowed to keep reading as I have way too many books on my TBR to spend 8 days getting through a book.

Slow burn. I liked the characters, but I felt that the story was moving really slow. The story focused more on the characters than the mystery (so it’s good that these characters are written pretty well). My only complaint is the slow build. I’m also NOT a fan of the last chapter (seriously just stop before the last chapter and you’ll be fine)

Thanks to NetGalley for the copy of this ARC. This will be out in May of 2025!

[arc review]
Thank you to Harper Perennial for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Dying to Meet You releases May 13, 2025

Rowan is a single mother approaching the age of forty, and works as an architect in Portland, Maine.
Having recently been broken up with by text, Rowan is compelled to track her ex-boyfriend’s whereabouts through his shared location on a FriendFinder app, which leads to her finding his dead body outside of the mansion in which she’s contracted to work on.

<i>Dying to Meet You</I> is told through three character perspectives, and is written in both first and third person.

The history of the Wincott mansion was intriguing, but with the extremely slow pace, it never quite felt like it achieved being the main focal point.
Despite how Coralie’s chapters were such a stark contrast to the rest of the narrative, often making me feel on edge due to what was taking place between Coralie and her boss, her perspective was so sparse to where it didn’t seem significant enough to the plot.

Using vocabulary like “unalived” and “cheugy” really dated this, and made it apparent that it was written during peak TikTok consumption.