Although I really like how quick of a read this book was, in the same breath, it was a hard read. There were so many characters and different stories that were back and forth that it was hard to keep up.

This novel was so much fun! It was twist after twist and I never could have guessed what was coming next. The chapters were from different perspectives which helped to weave the web of secrets, lies and affairs and made each chapter more gripping than the last. The idea that everything started from sending a text in the wrong group is realistic and added an additional feeling of unease that really helped to set the tone for this book. This is the first story I’ve read of Andrea’s, but I’ll definitely be checking out more!

4⭐️….this book kept me so engaged. Couldn’t put it down. Second book I’ve read by Andrea Mara and I’ve becoming a huge fan. Will definitely be reading her backlist.

OH MY GOSH!!! This book is everything ! Let me just say how incredible this is. It’s extremely fast paced, every chapter ends on a cliffhanger , total page turner. I lost sleep because I wanted to finish it so bad and it was so hard to put down. I’m so appreciative that I was able to have the opportunity to read an early copy. I’m preordering the hardcover of this! THANK YOU!!!

This novel started a little slow but picked up very quickly. It was a fun, exciting read. At points I was unable to put it down.
There were a lot of characters and it took me a minute to remember everyone and who they were. Once I got that sorted out, I enjoyed all the different characters and how their lives intertwined. The premise was one online mistake upended all these character’s lives.
The book was set in Ireland, in a picturesque neighborhood. The story begins with the main character, Sarah, injecting her sister Greta with a fatal dose of heroin. The drama begins when Sarah accidentally sends a snarky text criticizing her neighbor to her neighborhood group chat. The text sets off a whole series of life changing events.
I enjoyed the twists and turns in the story. The end had a little special surprise. If you want a thriller for the summer, I would recommend this.

This book was SO much fun!! It gripped me from the beginning and I loved how early the drama started. This book has everything you want in a thriller. It's full of secrets and lies and infidelity and trauma and keeps you on your toes throughout. I particularly enjoyed the relationship between the three sisters and how their lives intertwined. The only thing I will say, is it felt like there was a little TOO much going on and too many characters to keep track of. It ended up being okay because it was so thrilling and fun, but if you don't read this in a few sittings, it would be easy to get lost and forget what's going on/who is who etc.

Overall I loved this book and would definitely recommend!! 4.5 stars from me!!

Normal suburban community members get tangled in tragic events and murders and mishaps. From the first scene the story gets going and I enjoyed all the twisty turns and the unwinding plot with all the different narrators. The different perspectives are interesting and very important to how the author reveals the story chapter by chapter. I thought it was brilliant how it started to unravel/come together with the first chapter which was unexpected for me. It's very intense and had a little bit of the Frieda McFadden twisty feeling at the end.


Caution:
Affairs (No descriptive sex) - Thanks!, lots of the F word (unfortunately really picked up second half)-Didn't enjoy this part, some violent descriptions.

IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN YOU was unfortunately not the domestic thriller for me. There were so many POVs and it was hard to keep track of everyone especially because there was a lot going on. It also didn’t help that the majority of the characters were obnoxious with no redeeming qualities.

I love Andrea Mara and strive to be an Andrea Mara completist. I enjoy all her works and this one is no different. I love a neighborhood intrigue story, especially in the summer, so this really landed for me, and I love how Mara is able to take ordinary things everyone does--accidentally sending a wrong message, snapping a pic of a stranger on a beach--and turn it into the catalyst for an entire thriller. She's doing interesting things for this genre and I enjoy that there is always a sense of "more" when it comes to her thrillers.

Great start and good, surprising ending. Some of the ending was predictable but most of it wasn’t. In the middle, I just felt it could had been shorter…there was a lot of repetition and things could had been shorter without rushing.

Other positives is that the author’s writing is easy to read, the book does have some funny bits and some sad bits…all characters (at some bits) will annoy you, make you angry, you’d cheer for them or feel for them…that’s good, because that means they are good, well thought of characters. They do grow and change…learn…others may get angrier.

Even though my rating is what it is, I will still recommend the book. It’s the genre I love reading and it’s a good novel…just ended up not being my cup of tea, but outside of that, it’s good.

A chain of events you won't expect from one simple social post - a lesson learned - read & think twice before you hit send! The characters and plot are well developed and the storyline just keeps barreling down the tracks like a runaway train! GREAT book and the first one I've read by this author.
Thanks for the ARC!

Firstly, thank you to NetGalley and Viking Penguin for the opportunity to read this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was my first book by this author and I look forward to more. I am publishing my review on my GoodReads account (linked at bottom) and if you ever have any other books by this or similar authors, I would be thrilled to review them. You can feel free to email me at lyn2422@gmail.com.

Now on to the review: Wow. This was a page-turner if there ever was one. The premise instantly drew me in—a WhatsApp group chat gone wrong? Who can’t relate to that? It's a storyline that feels fresh and current. So often, a unique premise can lose steam halfway through, but this one delivered from start to finish.

The character development was excellent. I felt like I really understood the internal motivations and dynamics of each character. There was nuance and dimension—even the unlikeable characters had redeeming qualities or moments that made them feel human. That’s not easy to pull off, especially in a thriller where you typically expect clear villains, but Mara makes it work without compromising the suspense.

The writing style is simple in the best way: clear, direct, and unpretentious, yet layered. No unnecessary fluff—just smart, deliberate prose. She reveals just enough at every turn to keep the tension high, and looking back, all the breadcrumbs were there. It’s thriller writing done right. I was hooked from the very first chapter.

In addition to being supremely entertaining piece of reading, I found the story to be so honest in its portrayal of the challenges of motherhood, postpartum, parenthood, and life in community. It resonated on a deeper level than I expected.

Overall, a brilliant and refreshing read. Highly recommend.

Fast paced and a lot of fun. It had one of the most interesting ideas I’ve seen in a while. We’ve all accidentally sent a text to the wrong person or even group chat and had to suffer the consequences.

There’s a really cool story however it drug on for way too long. There was entirely too much happening and the characters weren’t fleshed out because of that. At least three different characters could have been eliminated and we still would have gotten to the same ending.

4.25 stars. This was a wild ride throughout the entire book. It was easily followable even with many characters and side stories that eventually were woven together, centered around a woman who sends an accidental rant message meant for her sister, to a neighborhood group chat, exposing secrets. Chaos ensues after the message and in the end four people are dead, and her whole life has been turned upside down. Very fun to read and highly recommend.
Thank you to Penguin Group viking Penguin for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The book that pulled me out of my reading slump!! I loved this one- such a wild ride and I was here for every second of it. This is my second by Andrea Mara and I FLEW through this one, she does such an incredible job with crazy plot lines and mind-blowing twists and turns. This is the type of book that you absolutely end up staying up way too late because you just have to figure out what is going on!!!

BRB- going to read through all of her previous books, since she is now my new fav author.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC, all opinions are my own

This book is out January 2026, add it to your TBR!

This author is new to me, but I will be keeping an eye out for anything else they publish. I loved the story and the characters. The pacing of the story was great and the characters were relatable.

What started as a frustrated post on a neighborhood app turns into the most twisty murder mystery involving many families and community members. I never knew what would happen next and I was often on the edge of my seat. The premise gives me pause to ever use social media again, especially when it surrounds the people who live around me!

Oh, what tangled webs we weave!!!! A slip of the finger begins the unraveling of a very carefully constructed tapestry that is hanging by a thread. Stick around for the end product!

Absolutely tore through this book - loved the premise of sending a horrible text to the wrong people and all that happens after. Highly recommend as a great beach read.

I very much enjoyed this book! Lots of twists and turns at every page. Love this author and can’t wait to read more from her.