3.5/4 Stars

Frustratingly real. I could not put this book down any more than I could stop wishing this character would be derailed in the ongoing trainwreck that was her life and her horrible, deplorable decisions. The lies and justifications and betrayals and devastating mistakes are intense. I think this book tracked Cady's decline tremendously well and really makes you wonder how well you ever really know anyone. Even if that someone is your twin.

I do wish the author had avoided the last chapter twist that has become so popular, but that's a generalized complaint for me. I would rather the twist matter more than just show up at the end as one final sucker punch to the reader. I appreciated that it at least made sense why the reader wouldn't find out and the character herself wouldn't reveal this even in a first person account. I felt really baffled by this being the end though as I would have much rather found out what happened with so many other scenarios that actually unfolded in the story.

I will definitely be keeping an eye and ear out for other works from this writer! Thinking about this book kept me up at night and I am still thinking about it today.

(And someone please send Matt some help! I really need to know what happened to him and if he's okay.)

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC.
What a unique and compelling novel, so good! The writing style and story itself were quite different from most of the books I've read which was a welcome change. In the end I thought it could be called a mystery as well.
I couldn't stop reading as the protagonist began her journey of self-destruction. She was a control freak and not at all likeable. Obsessive and manipulative, she just couldn't help herself.
But I couldn't tear myself away from the read, it's addictive ... I highly recommend it!

This is one of those books that had me shaking my head furiously and then going back to reread what I'd read! Cady and Dana were twins when Dana was killed. Now as an adult, Cady--still devastated--sees a man in the cemetery when she's visiting the grave and swears she "knows" him. But why is he there? It's one of those wonderfully convoluted plots that had me gasping and re-reading as I put the pieces together! SOOO worth the read!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

Good Intentions pulled me in from the first page and didn’t let go. Marisa Walz crafts a story that’s as emotionally layered as it is suspenseful, balancing heartfelt moments with an undercurrent of tension that keeps you reading long past bedtime.

The characters feel real—messy, flawed, and achingly human—which makes their choices all the more gripping. I found myself torn between sympathy and frustration, desperate to see how everything would unfold. Walz’s pacing is spot-on, each chapter revealing just enough to keep the mystery alive while deepening the emotional stakes.

This is one of those books that lingers with you, the kind you find yourself replaying in your head days later. Smart, engaging, and beautifully written—Good Intentions is a standout that I’ll be recommending to friends who love their drama with a sharp edge of suspense.

Very twisty and captivating! I read this in one day and was very locked in to learning the ending. I really wanted to root for the main character but it was hard lol I am a bit bummed that a few of the twists were not addressed entirely to have a full ending but it was still a good read!!

𝑮𝒖𝒊𝒍𝒕, 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒈𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒇, 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒂 𝒇𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒚 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒂 𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒓𝒐𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒄𝒉...𝒊𝒕'𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒔𝒕: 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒎, 𝒗𝒊𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆. 𝒀𝒐𝒖, 𝒏𝒐𝒕.

HOW was this a debut? GOOD INTENTIONS features one of the best unreliable narrators I've encountered in recent thrillers. With no introduction, no back story, we meet Cady on the first page and instantly know that she's...different. Her inner monologue is all over the place; she's clearly doing something she shouldn't be, and she goes back and forth between admonishing herself for her actions and making excuses (mighty convincing ones, I may add) for them. She's constantly addressing 'Dana' and just like that, I was invested.

Slowly, some truths were revealed. Dana is Cady's identical twin and other half. What they share goes beyond titles like friend and sister. When Cady receives the life-changing phone call that Dana has been in a serious accident and Cady arrives moments too late to say goodbye, her world falls implodes. But it's not Dana's death that devastates her. Always a people watcher, she noticed a grieving mother in the hospital waiting room the day her sister died. She's convinced that it can’t be a coincidence that they both experienced tragedy at the same moment, and she feels duty-bound to help this woman through her grief.

Buckle up. I absolutely do not want to risk spoilers, but when I tell you Cady's narrative is just brilliantly executed. It's full of paradoxes and should be written off as the ramblings of someone utterly broken by grief, but at the same time, she makes so much sense. That inner monologue lays her bare, her very being flayed open for readers to judge, criticize, or sneer at. But when she drops such revelations like this: '𝑮𝒐𝒏𝒆. 𝑺𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒂 𝒔𝒎𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒔𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒂 𝒃𝒊𝒈, 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓, 𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈.' she suddenly became some injured, broken soul that I felt I needed to nurture, all the way to that terrible, shocking ending. Cady's voice is going to stay with me for a long time, and I cannot WAIT to see what this author comes up with next. Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for this absolutely stunning early read. Look for this one February 3, 2026.

Good Intentions by Marisa Walz is one of those books that stays with you long after you close the last page. Walz’s writing is sharp and emotionally layered, balancing tension and tenderness in a way that feels both real and captivating. The characters are fully fleshed out, flawed yet deeply human, making their choices and struggles hit hard. Every twist felt earned, every quiet moment purposeful. It’s the kind of novel that makes you think, feel, and, just when you least expect it, breaks your heart a little before putting it back together.

An absolute standout read.

Gripping and suspenseful, GOOD INTENTIONS is perfect for fans of Mary Kubica and Kimberly Belle. The author does a great job of having us inside Cady's mind.

A couple minor gripes: first, the constant direct address to Dana using her name (we know that's who you're talking to; you don't need to use her name so often -- e.g. "I went by the playground, Dana. Thanksgiving wasn't the same without you, Dana. We know who the "you" is so you don't need keep inserting "Dana.").

Second, the narrative could have been tighter; some scenes did not need to be included (for example, when Cady goes to meet Ben

These minor gripes aside, this is a novel that will absolutely keep you turning the pages. I kinda saw the ending coming but it nonetheless seemed appropriate for the book. Suspense fans will eat this one up.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-galley; all opinions in my review are 100% my own.

Cady runs an extraordinarily successful business. She organizes parties for a clientele where money is no object. A phone call from her brother-in-law changes everything. Her twin, Dana has been in a car accident and before Cady can get to the hospital, her sister is dead.
And so, starts the downward spiral of Cady. She walks away from her business, can barely stand to speak to her husband, and oh yes, becomes obsessed with a woman, Morgan. A woman who suffered a tragedy on the same night that Dana died. Cady might be letting everything else slip through her fingers, everything except her obsession with Morgan.
The story is told as if Cady is sharing everything that is happening with Dana. A very clever way to see everything from Cady’s perspective. But when her lies start to catch up with her, Cady is left broken and so so alone.
Holy spiraling out of control. The ending. That ending caught me by surprise. I could not turn the pages fast enough trying to figure out how off the rails Cady would fall. This is a debut. An incredible debut. A not to be missed debut. This book does not publish until February, but if you can get an advanced reader copy, take it.

If your looking for a story that will keep you hooked until the end this is the one for you


Definitely recommend adding this one to your TBR

I literally read this book within 24 hours heart pounding gut wrenching read I could not go to sleep until i finished this awesome read the story the characters amazing

Oh…my…goodness. This book is so unsettling. Not in the typical thriller/horror way but the tension and constant ethical ambiguity mixed with the narrators tone creates the perfect environment for this type of story. The decision to tell this as Cady speaking to her sister really added to the depth of this story. Typically I don’t like that type of setup but this is exactly how it should be done. The casual tone in which Cady does some monstrous things really kept me hooked. I could never truly decide if I felt bad for her or was completely disgusted by her. The way the author managed to toe that line is admirable. The ending caught me completely off guard and taught me what it truly means to have my jaw dropped. At first I was unsure why this book was being marketed as suspense but upon reflection it does actually make a lot of sense.