I thought this was just okay.

I had really high hopes for this since I've read other books by Sarina Bowen (although they were a different genre) and enjoyed them.

I really did not like any of these characters, I found out main character to be so paranoid and without much reason. I found her daughter to be so incredibly obnoxious. And I did not get the hype behind that guy, he just felt so random. (Technically, he wasn't random, he's the father of her daughter. But he felt random! He just shows up and is suddenly a part of this story while also not really being in the book at all. Felt very weird.)

I also found this mystery to be really flat and it was barely followed. The relationship drama (that I did not care about and was not made to care about) was WAY more the focus of this book and that is not what I wanted. It was just so slow that I kind of forgot that there was even a murder/mystery element to it.

I was disappointed by this because it had so much potential and I just wanted so much more from it.

Thanks to NetGalley for the audiobook ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

This audiobook was a little too much of a slow burn for me. I kept waiting for something thrilling to happen.

I think the narrators were what truly kept my interest in the book. Even though it was slow, the narration and the dual POVs kept it going for me. I listened at 1.75x and it was a good flow.

The ending POV was a great addition to the story. Throughout, I was expecting a bit more “haunted house” vibes, but I wasn’t getting that. So the ending was a nice touch!

I did also enjoy the romance aspect of the storyline. I’m a sucker for old flames!

All in all, it wasn’t a bad audiobook but it just wasn’t for me.

Dying to Meet You is a domestic thriller set in Portland, Maine. It revolves around the Wincott family and their legacy. There are many secrets, numerous twists and turns as well as a wide variety of characters. This audiobook was narrated beautifully by this fabulous trio of voice actors: Kathleen Early, Caitlin Kelly and Sarah Mollo-Christensen. Kathleen Early was absolutely brilliant as Rowan and Beatrice. Caitlin Kelly was superb as Natalie. You could feel her eyes rolling at times. Sarah Mollo-Christensen was outstanding as the somewhat flighty secretary Coralie. They portrayed all of the characters perfectly.

𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗖𝗞 𝗣𝗟𝗢𝗧 𝗣𝗘𝗘𝗞
Rowan, a single mom and architect, is restoring a historic mansion in Maine. After a recent breakup, she discovers her ex has been murdered - and she’s the prime suspect. As she tries to clear her name, she uncovers secrets about the mansion, her ex, and her own past.

𝗛𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗢𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗢𝗡
The start pulled me right in. I liked the setup, the multiple POVs, and Coralie’s chapters were all kinds of odd.

The full cast audiobook was a great listen - each narrator brought something unique, and it really helped the multiple POVs pop! Looking back, that might’ve been my favorite part of the whole experience.

Rowan’s a solid main character: successful in her work, a bit messy in her love life, and doing her best as a single parent. She felt real and easy to get behind.

But about halfway through, the story leaned hard into the romance. The second-chance stuff was so sugary sweet it made it tough for me to stay focused on the mystery. I’m so not a romance girlie!!

There’s talk of the mansion being haunted, and the old-money family being awful - so structurally this is a thriller, but the vibe is romance, so I really struggled to connect.

𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗛 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗?
I think this is a great option for fans of slow paced suspenseful romance. In fact if it had of been categorized that way, I think I’d have been less disappointed with the direction and overall vibe.

Thanks to @HarperAudio and @Netgalley for access to this advance readers copy

I've always loved Sarina Bowen's romance novels. This is the first time I've read one of her mystery/thrillers and I loved it. She has a way of pulling you into a story and make you really care about the main characters.

This was a wonderful mystery about our protagonist Rowan who was suddenly broken up with by her boyfriend. After realizing she is still sharing locations with him on her phone, she sees that he is driving around her neighbourhood. So she decides to go for a walk, and finds that he's parked at the historic house she is renovating and dead. This story has man twists and turns that keep you guessing.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Audio for the the advanced listener copy. The audiobook has a full cast and is wonderful to listen to. this is a great beach read. I highly recommend.

This had me hooked from the very beginning. I did guess the ending, so maybe a tiny predictable, still very enjoyable.

this was just okay for me. some parts pulled me in, others totally lost me. i did like the darker themes. especially the whole baby selling element, but i kept waiting for it to dig deeper into the wayward school and it never really did. felt like a missed opportunity. also, the title is kinda misleading?! i went in expecting something totally different. not a bad read, just not one that’ll stick with me.

3.25

setting: maine
rep: n/a

this was ok, not quite as compelling as Bowen's first foray into the genre and there wasn't much surprise going on here. I don't think Coralie's POV added enough to the story to be worthwhile, and I didn't find Natalie too compelling either - I'd have preferred if this was solely from Rowan's POV. I liked Harrison, but there was a lot of build up to a quick resolution - literally until about 95% of the way into the book rowan wanted him out of the house. if I hadn't been listening to the audio it's the kind of book I might easily have put down and never got round to picking up again.

This book hooked me hard from the first chapter. Rowan Gallagher is a single mom, an architect, and now—unfortunately—the prime suspect in her ex’s murder. What starts as a tense domestic drama slowly morphs into a layered, high-stakes thriller that had me turning pages way past bedtime.

The Maine setting gave off major gothic mansion + small-town secrets vibes, and I was here for it. The tension builds beautifully, and Rowan’s voice felt authentic—sharp, funny, anxious, loving—all at once. You really feel her fear, especially with her daughter in the mix.

Some twists I saw coming, but others totally blindsided me in the best way. And while the romance subplot isn’t front and center, it adds a nice touch of warmth to balance out the darker elements.

Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell or Megan Miranda. Definitely recommend if you like thrillers with heart and heroines who refuse to be helpless.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC audiobook!

Overall I really liked this book. I started to figure out some things halfway through, but I would recommend this to friends.

Thanks to Netgally and the publisher for an advanced copy of the audio book in exchange for an honest review!
This is my favorite book by Sarina Bowen (so far). The audio was awesome! I loved all the different narrators and the story kept me guessing until the end. This wasn't necessarily a scary book, but it is one you'll want to devour. If you're into domestic thrillers, check this book out! If you like audio books, the audio version is fantastic!

My second read by Sarina Bowen and it did not disappoint. This book has all the twists and turns you want in a psychological thriller. The characters were well developed and the narrator was on point. The end twist had me gasping out loud. Highly recommend!

I really loved this one! I listened to it and I thought it worked well in that format. I enjoyed the characters, especially the dog named Licky. The book is a great who done it novel that kept me interested from start to finish. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Audio for the audio book in exchange for my honest review.

A solid 3.5 star read!
Dying to Meet You by Sarina Bowen is a clever paranormal romance that blends the living with the afterlife. A lot of the banter between the dead characters is often laugh-out-loud funny. The romance is a slow burn, and the pacing lags at times, and a few plot points feel underdeveloped. The narration was excellent, and I feel like the book shines in this format.

Still, fans of cozy paranormal tales and unconventional love stories will find this an enjoyable read. I didn’t find it to be the most polished story, but it’s a solid read for readers looking for something light, sweet, and just a little spooky.

Thank you to Net Galley and Harper Perennial for the audiobook ARC.

Solid romantic suspense, but less of a thriller than I'd like.

Premise - A single mom is commissioned to work on a mansion in Maine that formerly housed pregnant teenagers. Fresh off of a break up she stalks her ex's phone location... but when the aforementioned ex turns up dead, the aforementioned stalking gets her prime suspect status with the police. In the midst of all of this, a bad boy from her past comes knocking.

I'm not presently in a romance mood and I'd say this was more of a romantic suspense than a thriller. The voice didn't really work for me and I fast-forwarded through the sex scenes (just couldn't, got the ick) but that's more about my tastes/preferences and not about the story's competence, so I'd say this is still a solid 3 for fans of the genre (romantic suspense, not thriller, to be clear). The tone is high drama-ish, verging at points on the edge of melodrama, but just didn't feel conversational and confessional in the way I like my thrillers best.

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Kathleen Early, Caitlin Kelly, and Sarah Mollo-Christensen. A full cast read tends to be a good sign with audiobooks and (though not necessary when there's a really talented narrator) it's a treat. This one didn't disappoint! If you want to read this book, I definitely recommend enjoying it as an audiobook.

Thanks, NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult, for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book had an interesting storyline and I loved that the main character was stalking her man and criticizing his locations after their breakup. 🤣 The characters were entertaining and the narration was great.

Sarina Bowen delivers a gripping and suspenseful ride in Dying to Meet You, a mystery full of twists, turns, and well-timed reveals. From the very beginning, the story hooks you in with its tense atmosphere and layered plot, keeping you guessing—even if you manage to predict the ending, as I did.

Despite anticipating how things would wrap up, the journey was still thoroughly enjoyable. Bowen’s storytelling keeps the momentum strong, and she does an excellent job tying up all the loose ends by the final page. The resolution is satisfying and leaves no lingering questions, which is always refreshing in a thriller.

If you’re a fan of whodunit mysteries with a modern edge and a cast of intriguing characters, Dying to Meet You is well worth the read. It’s a fast-paced, cleverly written novel that delivers on suspense and plot satisfaction alike.

This consumed me from start to finish. I loved how atmospheric the audio book was. I found myself finding chores to do so I could continue to listen!

A thriller where the FMC doesn't make any stupid choices. questionable yes, stupid no. solid book with a good amount of character development. it would have been a five-star for me, but I didn't feel like there were enough clues throughout the book so that you could solve the mystery aspect on your own. when it got to the end it basically told me who did it rather than me being able to figure it out. overall, I would recommend this book but I probably wouldn't read it a second time. overall, I would recommend this book but I probably wouldn't read it a second time. shout out to Harper Collins publishing for sending me an advanced copy. shout out to Harper Collins publishing for sending me an advanced copy. As always happy reading

DYING TO MEET YOU is a brilliantly crafted thriller with twists, turns, and fabulously complex characters. Bowen delivered a story with heart, mystery, a little action, and chills.

Getting to experience this book through the eyes of a mother, Rowan, and daughter, Natalie, gives the reader a more well-rounded view. Sometimes, with multiple narrators, it doesn’t work in favor of the story. However, this is not the case here. Much of what is happening is centered around Rowan, but the interjection of her daughter’s thoughts and perspectives is refreshing. And then there is the voice of Coralie. Her story is different and will bring everything together through the lens of experiences and choices.

This book was addictive. The plotting, the reveals, and the overall tension within these pages were spot on. I couldn’t put it down. And the ending…brilliant. I honestly cannot wait to read more from the author and am picking up THE FIVE YEAR LIE next.

Audiobook Note: Kathleen Early, Caitlin Kelly, and Sarah Mollo-Christensen narrate this book perfectly. As we go back and forth from the various perspectives, the pace is right on point. This audiobook was a really great listen.