This was such a great popcorn thriller that I completely devoured on audio! It was impossible to stop listening as I had to figure out what was going on! The full cast narration made it easy to follow along as the POV switched between characters. I was truly shocked at the final twist and really enjoyed this one. I would recommend for thriller lovers in need of a quick read to binge!

I was prepared to write a lukewarm review, saying that although the book was well-written and the story captivating, the author had left one major plot thread hanging. And then with only moments to spare, the author proved me wrong in a most magnificent fashion. Dying to Meet You thus satisfies on all fronts. The mystery was well-crafted and delivered, and the peripheral romance was lovely. My only tiny criticism stems from my familiarity with and huge admiration of Ms. Bowen's earlier thriller, The Five Year Lie. Having paid close attention to how the author crafted that story, I was pretty sure I knew who the bad guy was in this novel, and I was right. My smarty-pants triumph in no way detracted from my enjoyment, however. I loved the secondary characters and particularly appreciated how our initial impressions of each one were artfully tweaked as the plot progressed -- except for the dog and cat, who remained terrific from their first appearances on the page to the very end!

Rowan was hired as an architect to restore the former Wincott mansion. When her ex gets murdered, she's on the suspect list. The more she uncovers, the deeper the secrets go.

Super quick read. I got this ARC as an audiobook and was very pleased with the narrator.

Pros:
□ Great audiobook, doesn't require your undivided attention to listen to.
□ Good plot, unique storyline. Ending isn't very predictable.

Cons:
□ Well written but does feel rushed at the climax. (that's what she said...)

Overall great for a summer read/listen. Available now!

Thank you #NetGalley for this ARC audiobook of #DyingToMeetYou

Not sure why this was titled Dying to Meet You? Very atmospheric this was my first time reading a book by Sarina and it did not disappoint

My first book by this author and I enjoyed it!

We’ve all been in the situation where the guy you’re falling for - hard, abruptly ends things, so you obsessively track their location to try and figure out not only what they’re up to now but exactly where things went wrong..

Well what would you do if you discovered they were 3 blocks away, went to confront them but instead of getting answers you get MANY more questions when you find them deceased..ergo resulting in an awkward conversation with the police 😂

Although this book was arguably slow paced (my least fave), I found it was a lot less noticeable given how well fleshed out the characters were. Following their movements and thought processes kept me entertained enough to not be bored whilst we made the journey from start to finish.

The audio narrators all did a great job my only comment would be a couple sounded pretty similar in voice so it could be hard to distinguish at times.

Thank you for the gifted copy!

Thank you, HarperAudio Adult | Harper and NetGalley, for providing me with this advance reader’s audiobook copy in exchange for an honest review.

“Dying to Meet You” follows Portland,ME architect as she restores a historic mansion uncovering lies, betrayal and murder. The story is engaging and has just the right amount of twists that aren’t too predictable. The story is told from multiple viewpoints and the audiobook uses different narrators which is engaging.

Thank you to the author, narrator, publisher and Net Galley for providing a free e-audio of this title in exchange for my review.

For some reason, I got the idea this was a women's fiction/cozy mystery sort of book - and it's really not. Maybe the title and cover was misleading. And it's hard to rate and review for me. I Finished it a few days ago and I'm still not sure what to think of this book. IT was a very, very slow paced book. I felt like it could get a good chunk edited out without harming the story. The characters were overall well developed, and the mystery wasn't terrible. But with the slow pacing, it just took far too long between events to keep me engaged.
The romance really felt out of place. I saw another review saying the author writes romance, so maybe they haven't left the romance fully behind.

I would recommend this to others, I would read other mysteries by this author, but I really don't love it.

3 stars, it was ok.

ARC audiobook provided in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the narrators on this book! They were clear and concise and made it easy to listen to and comprehend. The story was compelling and had me wanting to get to the end for all the answers. I definitely didn’t see certain parts availing while others were a bit more predictable. I loved how the story wrapped up and the characters got their perfect ending! I would recommend to anyone who likes psychological thrillers and mysteries!

I'm a fan of Sarina Bowen's romance novels, but I am all for the mystery thriller shift, and can't wait to read more from this Author!

Dying to Meet You isn’t just a genre shift—it’s a full-blown detour down a road paved with secrets.

Rowan Gallagher is an architect and single mother restoring a historic mansion! Her boyfriend suddenly dumped her, but forgot to turn off his location tracker. How fun! I loved this twist as you don't see novels in relationships or marriages that show a location tracker, since this is a modern thing many people and friends are doing. (At least I haven't read any.) Her late-night, post-breakup stalking felt both hilarious and horrifying, and when she walked her dog straight into a crime scene? I was all in.

The slow-burn suspense lets each character stretch out and unravel, especially Rowan and her teenage daughter, Natalie, whose dynamic was pitch-perfect in all its hormonal, heartfelt glory—everyone else, suspicious and deliciously so. The multiple POVs add texture without clutter, which was another plus, as some mystery thrillers that have multiple POVs can get confusing—an impressive feat, given how often thrillers with shifting perspectives can blur character voices. Characters often begin to sound interchangeable, lacking distinct traits or tone. This applies to the writing and audiobook narration, where poorly matched voices can make everyone sound like the same person. Sarina Bowen avoided both pitfalls masterfully.

What I enjoyed most was that since Sarina Bowen started as a romance novelist, her amazing romance storytelling also slipped in. It was like you were combining each of our authors' amazing talents.

More, please. I ate this 10-hour audiobook all at once in a day.

Dying to Meet You by Sabrina Bowen

I love Sabrina Bowen’s books and this one did not disappoint! This mystery/thriller gripped you into the story right from the beginning and has you guessing until the very end. The story has many twist and turns and has you wondering and unsure and keeps you captivates the entire time.
I highly recommend it.

The narration was excellent in the audiobook.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the alc.

I really enjoyed Sarina Bowen’s last novel The Five Year Lie so was excited to check out her new book. Unfortunately this one fell a little flat to me. None of the characters were all that compelling and while the narrators were fine, it didn’t wow me. The mystery element of the adoptions were the most interesting part of the story for me. While the end was a bit of a surprise, it felt pretty unbelievable.

Overall, this is a popcorn read that kept me entertained but isn’t something I’ll likely remember.

⭐️⭐️Review⭐️⭐️
📖 Title: Dying To Meet You
🧍‍♀️Author: Sarina Bowen

This was a quick, gritty, and fun domestic thriller! With
well fleshed-out multiple POV’s, wealthy people behaving badly, and a boyfriend who is not who he seems, the follow up to Sarina Bowen’s debut the The Five Year Lie, is definitely worth read!!

Did I mention there is a historical piece woven in centered around a haunted old mansion that at one time housed young, unwed mothers? And a second chance romance? Annnddd a heartwarming, mother-daughter duo ?! This book checks all the boxes - can’t go wrong here. Happy publishing day!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you you to #Netgalley and#HarperAudio for an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you HarperAudio and NetGalley for the ALC of Dying to Mee You by Sarina Bowen. This one is harder for me to review, I liked it but it’s not something that will stick with me. The story follows a single mom, who’s working as an architect restoring a giant mansion. Her boyfriend is found dead in the parking lot of said mansion after breaking things off with her. Suspicious?? I’d say. The story is definitely slower moving with the MC trying to find the connection to her boyfriends death and the hotel. I really liked the multiple POVS it kept things fresh and interesting. What I didn’t like was the narrator pronounces WH words without the “W” so “when” sounds like “wHHHHen” and it’s rather distracting. I think I would of enjoyed it more if I read a physical copy.

ALC in exchange for an honest review for net Galley and Harper Audio.

This is my first book by Sarina Bowen. I definitely enjoyed this one. I loved the three perspectives throughout the story. I also did not expect the twist in the end.

Rowan has been hired to refresh an old Wincott mansion that used to be a home for girls with a shady past. When her boyfriend breaks up with her and is found murdered … by her, her life starts to fall apart.

Natalie, Rowan’s daughter, has been keeping secrets from her mom. One about her former boyfriend and another about her father.

Coralee, works for Mr. Wincott. She is trying to decide how to tell her boss that he got her pregnant…

Rowan keeps finding so many questionable things about several people connected to the murder ans the mansion. It nearly drives her mad. This one kept me on my toes until the very last chapters.

I also loved the story that evolved between Harrison, Natalie and Rowan. So good.

Sometimes, in between twisty true crime podcasts and dense literary thrillers, you just need something that lets you breathe while still keeping you guessing. Dying to Meet You hit that sweet spot for me—a murder mystery with bite, family dynamics, and a little romantic tension to keep things interesting.

Rowan Gallagher is a single mom, an architect, and absolutely spiraling over her ex (we've all been there). She's the kind of character who makes some questionable choices—like tracking her ex's avatar around Portland—but you're still cheering for her. Even better, the story isn't just about unraveling a whodunit—it's also about the messy, layered bond between Rowan and her daughter. That mother-daughter dynamic was the standout for me, and I found myself surprisingly invested in their relationship.

The audiobook narration is spot on. Kathleen Early and Caitlin Kelly gave distinct voices to each character, and not in a "wow, they tried" way—it actually worked. You could feel the age difference, the emotional nuance, the tension. It made the alternating perspectives believable. I never once had to double back to figure out who was speaking.

This was my first Sarina Bowen read, mostly because I've avoided her more traditional romance catalog (it's just not my typical genre), but now I'm a bit curious. If she keeps writing mysteries with snappy storytelling, I'm in.

Dying to Meet You is a fast, fun listen. Highly recommend it if you're looking for an audiobook with decent pacing, great narrators, and just the right amount of edge to keep you hooked.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Audio for an advanced reader's copy; all opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC opportunity!

I really enjoyed this! The web was woven so deep and all over the place but it was so well written and it was easy to follow. Beatrice gave me weird vibes from the jump but i thought it would go a slightly different route.

This was a great thriller!

This was okay. Based on the description, I was hoping there was going to be more of the stalking the ex-boyfriend storyline. That was only like 2 minutes of the story. There weren't any crazy twists, either. I guess I just wanted more drama in this. I really didn't care what was going on at the mansion, which was basically the whole mystery.

I did really love the cover. The audiobook was also well done. I liked that it was easy to tell whose POV each chapter was, since the different narrators had distinct voices.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

Rowan Gallagher is a busy architect and single mother to a teenage daughter. She is in the process of restoring an allegedly haunted historic mansion for the Wincott family. The mansion itself has a rough history; it seems like it was a home from unwed mothers and the Wincott’s were not always doing what was best for the mothers or the babies.

Being a single mother is tough, especially when you are also in the dating pool. The novel opens with Rowan getting a little too curious about what her ex-boyfriend is up to, and checking his location on her phone. I loved how the author created the character who was very much like you or me…you best bet I would also be checking out the location of my ex!

Rowan does find her ex, but he is not with another woman. He is alone, and has been murdered. She, of course, becomes a suspect. And, unbeknownst to Rowan, the father of her daughter (an ex-con!) is also in town. He becomes a suspect as well.

There are multiple timelines narrated in this novel. Three narrators in the story; Rowan, her teenage daughter, Natalie, and a mysterious pregnant secretary from the past. All the voice actors are wonderful; I really felt like they were believable characters and was rooting for them.

Halfway through the novel, I was convinced I had figured out the murdered…but I hadn’t! I was pleasantly surprised about the final twist.
And as to whether or not the mansion is haunted…you’ll have to decide that for yourself. Things are not always what they seem, and the same goes for the people in this novel.

Four stars from me! I highly recommend Dying to Meet You!

Thank you to Harper Perennial for this ARC version.

What a thrill ride!
I enjoyed this one. There is a little bit of a dip in the middle with the pace but I was invested in the outcome that I don’t mind much.
This is the second book I’ve read by this author and I plan to continue to follow her future work.

Loved a touch of the second chance romance included.
I’m still not sure I understand why the bad guy did what they did.

Devoured!! kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. Plot was gripping and full of unexpected twists that made it impossible to put down. The pacing was perfect, fast enough to keep the tension high but with enough depth to develop intriguing characters. The ending was just enough of a twist to have my gasping, but the climax was a little bit of a let down. That was the ONLY reason I gave it 4 stars, it would have been 5 if the climax had hit a little better.