Review: The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
The Girl on the Train Author: Paula Hawkins
Publisher: Riverhead Books
Published: 2015
Genres: Adult, Mystery, Thriller
Pages: 336
Format: Hardback
Source: Borrowed from the library
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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?
Compulsively readable, The Girl on the Train is an emotionally immersive, Hitchcockian thriller and an electrifying debut. (Cover and synopsis from Goodreads.)
Even though I am a YA girl at heart, I’ve recently really craved adult thrillers, and I think the blame for that can be placed squarely on The Girl on the Train. I really, really enjoyed it, even though it isn’t one of my favorites, and it didn’t blow me away at all. But it gave me an itch for more books like it, and I really have yet to scratch that itch. Hopefully soon I’ll be reading many more adult thrillers.
But back to The Girl on the Train. I write a lot of notes while reading, and one of my favorite things to write in my notes are theories as to where the book is going to go, who is guilty of what, etc. And my notes were FULL of theories while reading this book. But while I had some theories that proved correct, not all of them did. And there were plenty of twists and turns as more information was revealed, making my theories twist and turn as well. I was never truly sure who the culprit was, and I think that shows that this was a well-written mystery.
There’s another aspect to the book that I think is really important to discuss, but because it would totally spoil the mystery, I’ll refrain from talking about it. But maybe I’ll try to read another book about that subject so I can discuss it in a different review.
My rating for The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins is 4 stars. It isn’t my favorite book but it was very entertaining and I can’t wait to read more adult thrillers.
Andrea
You may also enjoy: Gone Girl
Disclaimer: I borrowed a copy of this book from my library. I was in no way compensated for this review.
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Sheena-kay Graham
July 4, 2016 at 2:01 pmNow I want to read it so I can make my own theories. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Carlisa
July 9, 2016 at 3:38 pmI've been seeing the trailer for this movie that's coming out, and I've been wanting to get my hands on the book ever since. It looks so creepy and twisty that I'm pretty sure it's going to blow my mind. Great review!