I received a physical ARC from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

I very much enjoyed The Woman In Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware and I was looking forward to reading The Woman In Suite 11 as a follow up.

I was wondering going into reading this book whether I should either do a re-read of The Woman In Cabin 10 or find a summary online to read before starting this book and having finished reading The Woman In Suite 11, I can honestly say I think it would have been helpful to feel more immersed in this novel and to feel more connected to the characters.

I really enjoyed getting to read another book featuring Lo Blacklock, I just feel the pacing started to drag a bit about halfway through and then picked up again closer to the ending. I also had to kind of look past the explaining to the reader in the book and also the poor decisions made by the main character. I had a hard time getting past how nieve and just simply stupid Lo Blacklock was in this book. Perhaps this was a mechanism to move the story forward or maybe she just wanted to see the good in people, but I like characters to be savvy in thrillers/mysteries.

I didn't enjoy this book as much as I did The Woman In Cabin 1o, but I still will read novels by Ruth Ware that are to come in the future.

Lo Returns: Secrets in Suite 11

Reading by Mood
I followed my mood (as any good witch should) and dove straight into The Woman in Suite 11 after finishing The Woman in Cabin 10 and I’m glad I did.

Having Lo Blacklock’s backstory fresh in my mind made this sequel feel instantly tenser. Knowing what she’d already endured and understanding her fears and fragile mental state brewed up the tension from the very start.

Lo assignment this time is for the opening of a luxurious hotel. But someone in Suite 11 has other plans, and Lo finds herself swept into another web of secrets and danger.

Witchy Theorizing vs. Lo’s Logic
Now… confession time. I didn’t love this one as much as Cabin 10. I still like Lo as a character, but she grated on me here. Her drama kept me in it, but her constant overthinking, circling the same theories, and trying to piece it all together well, I am not a fan of that. I want to hunt the clues myself and feel that satisfying “click” moment. Let me do the witchy theorizing and overthinking

The Spell It Cast
That said, I do love a good cat-and-mouse game, and this story definitely entertained me.

🕷️ My Witchy Mood Meter: Almost Aligned
The energy was there. The mystery intrigued me. But it didn’t fully cast a spell.

Haven’t read Lo’s stories? Conjure both and binge away. Just keep a grounding crystal nearby for this one. (Witchy wink.)

Entertaining, twisty, and immersive! The Woman in Suite 11 by Ruth Ware was exactly the kind of clever, stylish escape I needed for a fun getaway read.

As a Ruth Ware fan who often dives in without reading the synopsis (a habit I keep telling myself adds to the suspense), I hit the request button and jumped right in. I do have a bit of a love/hate relationship with her books. Sometimes I find her characters frustrating or the pacing uneven, but this time around I was in just the right mood. Even Lo’s occasional naïveté didn’t get under my skin, though I did question a few of her choices along the way. And there were a few f-bombs sprinkled in, which I don’t usually love, but they didn’t bother me here. Go figure, I was simply enjoying the story too much.

Even though nearly a decade had passed since The Woman in Cabin 10, and I had long forgotten the character names and backstories, Ruth Ware seamlessly wove in just enough to help me reconnect with Lo Blacklock and understand her motives, which I thoroughly appreciated.

Lo is juggling motherhood and trying to restart her career in journalism, and that felt real and grounded to me. The setting, a luxurious Swiss hotel perched on Lake Geneva, was dreamy on the surface but definitely had shadows underneath. When Lo gets a late-night call to come to billionaire Marcus Leidmann’s suite and finds a woman claiming to be his mistress and in serious danger, the story takes a turn. Not a high-octane, edge-of-your-seat thrill ride, but more of a layered mystery with a rewarding, satisfying end. The puzzle pieces were all there, and while it wasn’t wildly unpredictable, it still managed to surprise me in the right way.

I alternated between reading and listening to the audiobook to squeeze in more reading time, and while I usually love Imogen Church, I struggled when she switched voices for other characters, especially the kids. Those cringeworthy scenes had me jumping back to the page to save my sanity. 😂

The cover? Classic Ruth Ware. Moody, elegant, and a perfect fit for the story’s atmosphere without giving too much away.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley for the advance copy. A clever, escapist read I was happy to fall into.

As a mood reader, this one hit when I wanted something smart but not too tense, familiar but still fresh. It didn’t demand a lot of me, it just let me settle in and enjoy the layered mystery. I could dip in and out easily, which made the reading experience feel easygoing but satisfying. And even though it wasn’t flawless (I am looking at you, kid voices), it still left me glad I stayed in Suite 11 for a while.

I was really looking forward to reading this book! It wasn't granted to me until late June and I decided to read The Woman in Cabin 10 before downloading and reading the sequel. Imagine my disappointment when I logged into my NetGalley account to download and begin reading The Woman in Suite 11 to find that it had been archived and I missed out entirely. :( So disappointed! Suppose I'll wait until it hits my local library.

2.5 stars
I have not read The Woman in Cabin 10. This followed-up or stand alone had me annoyed and frustrated at the main character, Lo Blackstock. She did not have common sense and should choose better friends.
A long story, with so much explaining and sidelines as if the author knew that the reader needed help following it. This one was a bust for me. Silly, silly woman that is bound to find herself in more trouble.
Skip this one, it was laughable. There is so many better ways to spend your reading time.
Thanks for the early copy #NetGalley, opinion is my own.

Delighted to include this title in the July edition of Novel Encounters, my column highlighting the month’s most anticipated fiction for the Books section of Zoomer, Canada’s national lifestyle and culture magazine. (see column and mini-review at link)

I really enjoy how Ruth Ware writes. Woman in Suite 11 reads easily as a standalone. I actually liked it more than The Woman in Cabin 10. Just when you think everything has been outed another twist sends you in different direction. (3.5/5)
Thank You to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Canada, and Ruth Ware for the opportunity to read and enjoy this ARC.

I wasn't sure how a sequel to the Woman in Cabin 10 was going to work, but I will read anything that is travel-writer adjacent, especially by Ruth Ware! I did actually really enjoy this, although some parts were pretty eye-rolly. The setting was great and the plot was interesting. I was frustrated initially when Lo was doing all this whack stuff without involving her lovely husband, but she finally looped him in and the last bit was really satisfying to me!!

The Woman in Suite 11 by Ruth Ware the second in the Lo Blacklock series about a travel journalist

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Simon & Schuster Canada, and the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.




Series Background: (Note that this section may contain spoilers from previous books)
Lo Blacklock is a travel journalist, who ended up in big trouble on the cruise ship Aurora, where she saw someone go overboard, but no one would believe her.  She ended up being kidnapped, and was "saved" by a fellow passenger.  Carrie has been on the run from police ever since.  Lo considers herself to be too honest at times, because she can't brush anything away, and can't lie to save her own skin.




My Synopsis:    (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Lo took a few years off from journalism to get married, have two kids, and write a book about her near death experience on the cruise ship.  She's been looking for a way to get back in the game, and she just may have found one.

Lo just received an invitation to attend a press opening of a luxury Swiss hotel. It's owner, the billionaire Marcus Leidmann is a recluse, and if she can get an interview with him, her career will take off again.  The hotel is fabulous, but she's surprised to see some of the other guests.  

When she receives a note requesting she come to Marcus's hotel room asap, she jumps at the chance, and finds another old friend, the last person she ever wanted to see.

Lo gets roped into helping a woman she doesn't even trust.  Next thing you know, Lo is arrested for murder.




My Opinions:
First, I don't like Lo.  When the whole series is about her, it's hard to review the book.  My reasons basically come down to one.  She's an idiot.  I like my protagonists to be strong, independent, and with some shred of dignity and intelligence.  Again, Lo is an idiot.  She risks her family, her life, everything, for a woman she doesn't trust. 

Other characters were interesting, but what happened to Cole and Ben?  Did I miss something?  I liked Pieter, and although he ended up taking the coward's way out,  I was okay with that.  A few others should have followed suit.

Okay,  the plot was very good, and although it was somewhat predictable - I quickly figured out who was going to die, who was going to be blamed, and who really did it - right from the start. It was still entertaining (as long as I don't think too much about Lo).

Overall, this was okay, but I definitely liked the first book better, and don't think we really needed a sequel.  Hopefully this is the end.

I’ve read and enjoyed all of Ruth Ware’s books. Her latest is The Woman in Suite 11. This book is a follow up to The Woman in Cabin 10 with character Lo Blacklock. If you have read Cabin, you’re all set. If you’ve not read Cabin, you’ll have to make a choice as you would find out all the answers from 10 in this book. Sorry, I hope that makes sense!

Lo has all of the of the things she wanted - husband, kids, and home. It’s time to go back to work. When she receives an invitation to cover the opening of a new hotel, she jumps at the opportunity. And is shocked when her past catches up to her present…

There’s a lot going on in the suspense filled plot and a mystery to be solved. There are a lot of twists and turns and I had to be on my toes. The direction of who, when and where changes quite often. There were a few things that I just thought were awkward. Not sure why Mom and her ankle were even in the book. Nobody goes to see her.

This one is not one of my favourite Ware books, but I do like the author's work so I will happily pick up her next book.

I did not read the synopsis. I didn’t even realize at first that it had characters from the woman in cabin 10, duh me.
Do I wish I had a refresher of the characters before beginning this book? Yes. Was it enjoyable finding out that this book is 10 years later, now in the present of lo? Also yes.
After getting involved with Carrie in the previous book, and the outcome not being the greatest. Lo decides to dive right back in to help her during this round 😅 silly her.
This book takes you through a roller coaster as Lo visits Switzerland to find her old friend Carrie in her life again, just to trek back to the UK to get herself into trouble, oh my.
I really enjoyed this book and all of the drama it entailed. I remember I ate up the woman in cabin 10 and this was no different. I found it fast paced and I was invested in finding out what happened within the story.
Mind you, there was one part of the story that I had questions about that did not get answered. But oh well 🤷🏼‍♀️
Ruth Ware is an auto buy for me, and I’m always very excited when I’m lucky enough to get to read her books early.

To say I was a little sceptical about a sequel to The Woman In Cabin 10 coming out 10 years later is an understatement but being the Ruth Ware fan I am also couldn’t pass it up! So I immediately started to read The Woman In Suite 11 as soon as it arrived. I found it to be fast paced wild ride that accompany many of Ware’s books. I didn’t find the twists to be mind blowing but they were well done and I really liked how the ending tied up any loose ends. Although a sequel I do feel that you could pick this up as a standalone, but think that the background of the other story and knowledge of some characters would help. I did overall enjoy this one and would recommend to fans of ware’s previous books.

I didn’t think that the first book needed a “sequel” but this book made me wish that Ruth Ware wrote it sooner. Granted the first half was a little slow the second half definitely made up for it. Really enjoyed this one

Lo Blacklock and a few other familiar characters from Ware’s previous breakout book, “The Woman in Cabin 10,” are back. Readers will be excited to discover what unfortunate situation Lo has gotten herself into now.  

Do you remember the storyline of The Women in Cabin 10? Or are you one of these people who wrote to Ruth Ware asking her for a sequel? I can’t think of one reason anyone would want a sequel for a thriller like The Women in Cabin 10. It ended on a perfect note. I especially don’t need a sequel to a book I read 9 years ago. Yet here we are with a subpar sequel. I’d agree with a few others who also made this statement: A thriller novel NEVER needs a sequel. Thrillers are meant to thrill, not drag on for the next 9 years. Of course, as a fan of Ruth Ware, an unnecessary sequel or not, I will still look forward to her next book(s) release.

However, there isn’t much to say about this book in terms of reviewing it. It’s a classic, fast-paced Ruth Ware book we all know and love. Her writing keeps a reader engaged and makes it difficult to put down the book. All of this magic is still very much there. I find the content of this book annoying. The only thing you must know about The Woman in Suite 11 is that the main character, Lo Blacklock, is so naive. She repeats the same mistakes and doesn't learn from them. The whole story is unbelievable because of the main character's absolute naivety.

This is a shame because I was looking forward to another book from Ruth Ware. Hopefully, she will have something more exciting up her sleeve, and it will come out soon because I miss her earlier writing. I wouldn’t recommend this book to my reader friends; however, it’s still borderline entertaining. Even though you will be yelling out loud about how annoying Lo's stupidity is throughout the book.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for providing me with an ARC via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Lo Blacklock returns for another dangerous adventure—this time not on a cruise ship, but at a luxurious Swiss hotel.
Netflix is releasing a movie adaptation of Ruth Ware’s popular thriller The Woman in Cabin 10 later this year. So what better time for readers to revisit Lo Blackwood in her new novel The Woman in Suite 11.
The Woman in Suite 11 serves as a sequel of sorts to The Woman in Cabin 10, picking up with Lo a decade later. Now living in New York, Lo is married and has two young children, her journalist career having taken a backseat to motherhood and the COVID pandemic. Eager to reestablish herself professionally, she jumps at a mysterious invitation to attend the grand opening of a luxury hotel on Lake Geneva, owned by reclusive billionaire Marcus Leichman. But once she arrives, familiar faces from her past start to appear. Is it all coincidence or something more sinister?
Confession: I haven’t read The Woman in Cabin 10, though I’ve read several of Ruth Ware’s other novels. Fortunately, the callbacks in The Woman in Suite 11 are thorough enough to provide context and help new readers understand who everyone is even without reading the first book. (That said, if you plan to read The Woman in Cabin 10 later, be warned this sequel contains major spoilers.)
The setup is a bit sluggish—it takes up the first quarter of the book before the central plot kicks in—but once you are past the initial chapters the pacing and suspense picks up and Lo is soon racing across Europe and into trouble.
Lo is likeable enough, but she doesn’t come across as especially bright; she doesn’t seem to have learned much from her past ordeals on the Aurora. I found this frustrating at times because some of her decisions seemed reckless given she is a mother of two young children. But it does add to the danger she gets herself in.
As for the supporting characters, I did enjoy several of the new characters and found myself hoping they would play a bigger role. We don’t get to know much about Marcus on whom much of the plot hinges, but he’s an intriguing character. Lo’s mother and husband were interesting too, although most of the characters don’t get fully fleshed out.
While there are a few “crackerjack” gripping moments toward the end, the novel doesn’t quite sparkle with the suspense and brisk pacing that Ruth Ware typically delivers. The Woman in Suite 11 may hold more appeal for die-hard fans eager to revisit Lo Blacklock, but if you're simply looking for a light, entertaining summer read, it may still check the right boxes.

A sequel to "The Woman in Cabin 10". I happened to just have read the Woman in Cabin 10 when I saw the sequel on Netgalley. With the characters still fresh in my mind, even though this sequel comes 10 years after the first book, The Woman in Suite 11 proved to be suspenseful and thrilling. Although much of the plot was fairly predictable, it kept me reading.

The pace of the book is gripping, and you want to find out what happens, even though you want to shake Lo Blacklock for being so naive!

This sequel is set 10 years after the Woman in Cabin 10 and Lo Blacklock goes to Switzerland to try get an interview with a wealthy businessman. When she shows up, Carrie (from the Aurora in The Woman in Cabin 10), surprises Lo and asks for her help escaping a controlling man. Lo agrees to help, despite knowing that Carrie uses people, lies and has even injured Lo in the past.. you have to roll your eyes a bit at Lo's decision to help.

Despite that, this book was a great summer afternoon thriller to get lost in. Great for fans of Ruth Ware for sure. Her pacing is impeccable.

Thanks Netgalley for the ARC!

I was excited to read this book but it's not my favorite of Ruth's. I did however love that there was a continued story about lo. I did however find that her naievity was really bothering me. Overall I did enjoy the story

Thanks author and netgalley. All thoughts are my own.

In The Woman in Suite 11, Lo Blacklock is forced to face her past head on. The dual American and UK citizen has been married to Judah for ten years and has two young boys. She receives an invitation to the opening of a posh hotel in Switzerland which clinches her decision to return to her journalist job. The hotel is owned by extremely wealthy Marcus Leidmann who doesn't give interviews. Lo wants to be the first so she requests a private meeting. Once at the hotel, she is astonished to recognize a few hotel guests. She is invited to meet with Marcus but the interview didn't go as planned. Later, after a murder happens, she becomes a suspect so scrambles to find a lawyer. Meanwhile, she has a family crisis which compounds her problems. She also agrees to help a friend at risk to herself.

Sadly, this novel disappointed me in several ways which was a surprise. The characters are incredibly juvenile and unbelievable. Lo makes foolish choices and doesn't learn from them. There are countless occurrences of the "F" word which is so unnecessary and many situations are implausible. To me the story felt almost obligatory and patchy. I did enjoy the suspense and writing itself but it was not enough to entice and enthral.

I read this book because it was sent to me, but it was a big no.

Lo Blacklock continues to make ridiculous decisions and ignore things right in front of her, especially for someone who apparently has "journalistic" intuitions. This was really trying to be a "screw rich men" narrative which I usually love (who doesn't) but it just felt more like Ruth Ware was doing this to try and stay relevant and appeal to a current narrative.

Overall it felt lazy and phoned in. Does a thriller really ever need a sequel???

I am a fan of Ruth Ware, so I was excited to receive this early copy of her latest thriller. Admittedly, The Woman in Cabin 10 is not my favourite book by Ware, so I wasn’t entirely sure this novel would be my favourite either. Although well-written, the story was a bit lacklustre in my opinion, and although there was some genuine intrigue and suspense, what was most disappointing: a few plot holes and certain orders of the story didn’t make sense. Perhaps this will be edited before the final edition. Sadly, I was let down by this sequel.
I do look forward to Ware’s next book.
Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for this ARC!
2.5/5 rounded up