Trigger Warning: Alcohol use, Mentions of rape (rape occurs off-screen before the beginning of the book)

To the casual observer, Chloe Sevre is the typical teenage “girl next door”. An honor student in her first year at college, she gets along well with her classmates and doesn’t really stand out.

Chloe Sevre however, is also a psychopath. She has been concocting a meticulous plan to kill Will Bachman – a fellow college student and someone from Chloe’s childhood who hurt her. Attending the same college is just one step in her overall plan.

Because as they say, revenge is a dish best served cold.

The overall story contained in Never Saw Me Coming is a multi-layered one. On the uppermost layer is the storyline centered on Chloe and her revenge on Will. An act of revenge she had been planning for years and finally is about to come to fruition. Beneath that is the murder mystery Chloe finds herself involved in. As one of seven psychopaths, she is at the university taking part in a specialized study. When one then two members of the study are killed, Chloe finds herself as both hunter and prey. Finally, beneath that is the rest of college life for Chloe including things like classes and parties and such.

The first two-thirds of Never Saw Me Coming are very well done in my opinion. Watching as Chloe tried to juggle getting close to Will as well as try to figure out who else was in the study and would want to kill her while also maintaining her facade as a typical college girl was entertaining. The issue came when Chloe was able to get her revenge but there was still so much of the book left. With what I considered to be the main driving plot point gone, the rest of the story kind of fell flat.

And personally, the final reveal of who was behind the murders wasn’t that satisfying either.

Final thoughts: Excellent premise, decent followthrough, needed a better ending.

An interesting read that strays from the norm or psychological thrillers. Chloe’s psychopath diagnosis makes her an asset to the research program at a DC college. She is offered a full ride to college if she participate in a program that provides her with therapy to help curb her psychopath tendencies. There at 7 students in the program. Early on in the book, there appears to be a killer targeting students in the program. Chloe begins to investigate and discover which students are a part of the program and if she thinks they are capable of being the killer. I have always been interested in the psychology of psychopaths and this book provided an accurate representation and engaging read. I was impressed to read that the author ever had a background in psychology..

This book had a lot of GREAT potential. It started out, and I thought it was going to be my favorite book ever... but the characters started feeling too flat to me and the situations too contrived. I think there was maybe too many characters. I think fleshing out a few characters, instead of spreading it out so much, would have really added to the book diving deeper into their mental states.

Never Saw me coming was an exciting book that follows college students at a Washington, DC school for are participating in an unusual clinical study for psychopaths. I thought that I would be watching movies on the plane but I could not stop listening to this captivating book. Chole is one in the group that along with receiving “care” from the program has her own murderous reason for attending the school. Andre is the farthest thing from a psychopath who on a prank with his older brother happened to be classified as a psychopath receiving a full ride to college just to wear a monitor and participate in some “dumb program”. Boy, was I rooting for these characters! They all had such unusual stories and personalities mixed with the normal college drama. Especially in the political scene of DC. This is an exciting book with such vibrant young characters who are uncontrollable and unforgettable. Anyone who reads it will not regret it. It was a great way to begin my year of reading.

Love a good sociopathic narrator and yep I’m serious, they’re fun!! Add in some revenge and I’m sold and addicted.

Didn't capture my attention and engagement. Interested in trying it again though and hopefully it will take.

This is one dark and twisty read. NEVER SAW ME COMING is a smart and unique thriller that is one binge-able read.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance reader copy of this book. A psychopath or faking being a psychopath? Either one makes this college related thriller a great read. 3 stars

Chloe is one of seven students at her DC-based college who are part of an unusual clinical study for psychopaths—students like herself who lack empathy and can’t comprehend emotions like fear or guilt.

This book was a lot of fun. Once the members of the study start getting murdered, Chloe makes some allies to solve the mystery and stay alive. She may also have a hidden motive to let the murders continue a little longer....

Twisty, thrilling fun.

This one was actually a DNF for me! I think it was a combination of not finding the time I needed to read it before book club, plus it's just not a genre I love. It was a book club pick, which is why I picked it up. Just couldn't get into it.

Never Saw Me Coming stood out to me with it's cast of characters.
It is rare to read about main character who happens to be a psychopath, but it is extremely difficult to find a book with many psychopaths represented, all in one story, all together hanging around, making jokes and just simply being themselves.

I am sorry to say that with all the preparing for the grand finale and revelation about the killer, I ended up disappointed and to say it simple, the end was underwhelming.

Overall, this was very entertaining novel set in college and I would recommend it as a quick read, but I wasn't satisfied with the way it wrapped up.

Never Saw Me Coming is the fast paced and very unique debut novel by Vera Kurian, which was published on September 7, 2021.

I highly recommend this one for readers who enjoy thrillers with a psychological backstory. From what I understand the author herself has a background in Psychology and that clearly shone through throughout the book.

I thought that the first third was very strong, the middle part of the book okay and the end had me like: 'wow'.


Thank you so much to Harper Collins CA, Park Row Books and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this in advance!

I was pleasantly surprised to find that I really enjoyed this book.

Is it okay to root for psychopaths? I find myself doing so, especially with Chloe, who just wants to live her best life, despite having murderous tendencies, particularly towards Will, The Boy Who Wronged Her when she was a teenager. I can't imagine myself ever being friends with someone as manipulative and cunning as Chloe, but reading about her and her thinking process has been an enlightening experience; how psychopaths have that extra layer of notgivingashit that normal people can't comprehend.

Would recommend this to fans of whodunits!

Unlike anything I’ve read before, it was a little slow at times but overall I enjoyed it. I definitely did not see it coming, I think it would make a really good mini series!

Never Saw Me Coming is a very unique psychological thriller about a group of students who are registered for college as part of a clinical psychology study. Chloe is part of this group, and she has another motive, to find a boy she once knew who betrayed her in high school. When one of the students in the group is murdered, they slowly begin to find each other and work together to find out what's going on!

It was really interesting to learn more about psychopathy and how its viewed in society vs. what it looks like in everyday life! The characters are all so different, complex, and intriguing! Though I really enjoyed it, I didn't find myself super connected to the story.. I think it was a bit too long, and I expected more from the ending! I'm glad I read it and would recommend for something very original and fun!

Thanks to NetGalley and Park Row Books for my copy!

3.5/5 stars

I was really excited to read Never Saw Me Coming given the amazing premise of a psychopath knocking off psychopaths, but in the end, it fell a little flat for me. Maybe it's because psychopaths by nature are generally unlikeable, but Chloe kind of got on my nerves and I wish the writing and plotting had been a bit more polished.

This was a decent enough read. It read quickly, it's written fairly well. It's a bit formulaic (albeit, fun to think about). The book starts out super confusing and there are twists and turns. Some are expected and some are not. The idea behind using sociopathy as a main subject is fresh, so that's interesting. It was worthwhile to read, but not something I will shout from the rooftops for others to do so as well.

This was a really interesting psychological suspense book. I really enjoyed the twists and the idea behind it.

This book will keep you reading. A unique story that might cause you to take a closer look at those around you.

New to me author but definitely won't be last. Thoroughly enjoyed this story. Thanks Netgalley and to the publisher for letting me read this advance copy.