Gina’s Review: The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

The Girl on the Train
written by Paula Hawkins
published by Riverhead Books, 2015

find it here: (affiliate links) Barnes & Noble, Amazon, iBooks, Book Depository, Goodreads

Did I enjoy this book: I now understand why everyone has this book on their to-read list. It’s pretty much one of the best books I’ve read this year, and so far, I’ve read a look of REALLY good books.

Usually I steer clear of books like this because, honestly, I don’t see myself as a “whodunnit” person. I don’t really like watching massive amounts of Law and Order, and I didn’t have huge piles of Nancy Drew novels growing up. It’s just not my thing. But this book may have converted me.

I love that there is always something going on with the characters. I don’t feel like any one chapter is boring, and that makes it easy to keep reading. The flow of the novel could easily make this book one you stay up all night reading . . . Oh wait. I did that! I also like the fact that at first I really hated Rachel and Anna, but in the end, I could actually understand why they did what they did. The best part for me was not knowing until the last few chapters who actually committed the murder. Usually I predict it, but this one I had no idea.

My only problem was that I felt the murder’s story was too rushed. I had to read it over a few times to get every detail. I know that Hawkins wanted us to be surprised, but I just felt like if we had the character developed a bit better things would have gone a lot more smoothly.

 

GOLDEN LINES

“It’s Friday, so I don’t have to feel guilty about drinking on the train. TGIF. The fun starts here.”

“The thing about being barren is that you’re not allowed to get away from it.”

 

Would I recommend it: I definitely would recommend it! Read up!

 

 

About the book – from Goodreads: Rachel takes the same commuter train every morning. Every day she rattles down the track, flashes past a stretch of cozy suburban homes, and stops at the signal that allows her to daily watch the same couple breakfasting on their deck. She’s even started to feel like she knows them. “Jess and Jason,” she calls them. Their life—as she sees it—is perfect. Not unlike the life she recently lost.

And then she sees something shocking. It’s only a minute until the train moves on, but it’s enough. Now everything’s changed. Unable to keep it to herself, Rachel offers what she knows to the police, and becomes inextricably entwined in what happens next, as well as in the lives of everyone involved. Has she done more harm than good?

A compulsively readable, emotionally immersive, Hitchcockian thriller that draws comparisons to Gone Girl, The Silent Wife, or Before I Go to Sleep, this is an electrifying debut embraced by readers across markets and categories.