Magpie had me intrigued from the beginning. There is a twist that occurs a fourth of the way that was totally unexpected. From that point forward, the tension was high and a sense of unease was expertly woven throughout. The story is as much compelling and heart wrenching as it is entertaining. This is the first book I have read by Elizabeth Day, but definitely will not be my last. It is well paced and suspenseful ,making it an addictive read. Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for my copy.

Three Adults Plus a Baby Make Tense Roommates

Marisa seems to have everything: a handsome attentive husband, a lovely new home, and a career. One thing is missing – a baby. Marisa and Jake try hard undergoing multiple fertility treatments that puts a strain on their marriage and on their finances. To help with the expenses, they decide to get a roommate. At first Kate is perfect then things change. She becomes obsessed with Marisa, Jake and the baby. She seems to know too much about them and as Marisa’s pregnancy advances, violence is in the air.

This story is told in two parts. The first narrated by Marisa, the second by another character. If you think you know where the novel is going in the first half, you will be surprised by the second. I thought the author did a good job changing narrators and keeping the tension on in the story.

The story is heavy on the problems of infertility and the expense, emotional tension, and physical discomfort of infertility treatments. For me, it went way overboard. I didn’t need quite so many details and it was a difficult section to read.

The pace is good and the twist at the end can be quite a surprise. However, I found the ending a little to pat. It’s nice to have a happy ending, but the story led me to expect something sharper.

I received this book from Simon and Schuster for this review.

Magpie by Elizabeth Day was a captivating read that was full of surprises, twists, and turns. Marisa and Jake seem like the perfect couple, even though they have only been together for a short time. They want to have a baby, but when they face financing trouble, they take in a boarder to help. When Kate moves in and makes herself at home, even with Jake. What does this all mean? A story about marriage, fertility, secrets and mental illness, you will be captivated from start to finish.

Happy reading!

I truly enjoyed this. It had a few twists and turns that I didn't see coming. Well-written, atmospheric, and made me think about the story when I wasn't reading it. Well done.

3.5 stars. It's hard to provide a synopsis of this book without veering into spoiler territory, so I'll be brief: Magpie is the story of one couple's road to parenthood -- a road that is anything but smooth, with speed bumps and pot holes in the form of infertility, an odd lodger, and an over-involved mother-in-law.

Magpie is one of those books that relies heavily on a plot twist, and despite that fact that I should've seen it coming, the twist did take me by surprise. The first part of the book leading up to the twist is incredibly compelling; Elizabeth Day's writing has a hypnotic, unsettling quality that works so perfectly with the story she's telling. I couldn't turn the pages quickly enough. But after the twist was revealed, the book lost some momentum for me, with the pace slowing down to cover some already-explored territory from a different perspective. This trope, along with a few others that Day relies on a bit too heavily in the second half of the book, didn't really work for me.

After setting up a psychologically suspenseful story in the first part, the second part of the book becomes more of a meditative character study. But although that threw me off at first, there was still a lot about Magpie that I enjoyed. It's an intensely personal, devastating chronicle of infertility and examines the relationships between mothers and children from both a healthy and a destructive standpoint, conveyed in Day's effortless, luminous prose. I'm not sure she covered a lot of new ground with Magpie, but she definitely told this story in a way I didn't expect.

Content warnings: infertility, pregnancy loss, sexual assault.

This was a good twisty psychological thriller, not so far fetched and not super obvious. The writing was British but still accessible for an American reader, the pacing was just right and the switch in perspective was pulled off perfectly in my opinion. Best of all I was satisfied with the ending which isn't always the case in these type of books.

Where to start? Marisa is looking for love and stability which she did not have before. She falls in love with Jake very quickly and decide to move in together. Deciding to have a baby is not easy and there are infertility problems. To help pay for help, the couple takes in a boarder, Kate. You can imagine the problems that might cause. Then there is Jake’s mother. There was a twist at about the half-way mark. Then…the book moved slowly, I was not sure where it was going. I question the ending. My thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. The opinions in this review are my own.

This is exciting, twisty, high tension, character driven, claustrophobic, intense book I was drawn into at the first chapter and I couldn’t put it down!

Marisa decides to move with Jake and build a new life with him including having a baby even though she has known for a few months. But their financial struggle force them have a lodger Kate who doesn’t respect to personal bounds and privacy, having interest in Jake that puts poor Marisa into unputdownable position! Did they know each other? What Marisa keeps into herself that ruin everything she’s built?

This is a well written novel that wasn’t spoilt for me by guessing some of the twists. Lots of emotions and some great characters make this a very good read

Thank you to netgalley and publishers for gifting me an e-copy to enjoy and leave my honest feedback. Run, don't walk, to your nearest book store and pick this one up asap. you wont be sorry

Marisa and Jake are the perfect couple and with the income, they'll receive from their new lodger, Kate, they can even afford the baby they both desperately want. Something is off about Kate though. She just doesn't seem to understand personal boundaries, and Marisa becomes convinced that there is something going on between Kate and Jake.

Nothing is what it seems in this extremely tightly plotted extraordinarily exciting psychological thriller full of twists. In fact, the central premise of this story revolves around one particularly shocking twist. You can't believe anything you read in this story. Every time, you think you know what is really going on, something new is revealed.

What makes it even more horrifying is that the central plot doesn't revolve around some outlandish premise. At its center, it is a story about the quest for motherhood and the heartbreaking struggle with infertility that so many couples deal with. That only makes the story that much more relatable, that much more irresistible, and that much more unputdownable.

Magpie feels like a book that could've been an edge-of-your-seat thriller. It certainly captured my attention in the beginning. There are some pretty easy-to-figure-out hints dropped here and there, but the tension was good, and I wanted to see how it all played out. Then, things changed with what could've been a brilliant twist, but it's like something got lost along the way. It became more women's fiction and drama than thriller. At this point, the author does give us a poignant look at infertility, but the book lost that tension of a good thriller, which is what I was looking for. In the end, we get back to some tension in the story, but it was from another angle. By the time I turned the last page, I really wasn't sure what this one was supposed to be. It's almost like three stories in one, and combined, they lack what I was looking for based on the promise of "a taut, psychological suspense" we're told about in the blurb. Really, the thing that impressed me most was the author's gift with words. She writes an engaging tale and crafts characters that I wanted to know more about even as the storyline frustrated the daylights out of me. So, I would check out more of Elizabeth Day's work. I just don't think this was the book for me.

⚠️TW: Infertility, IVF, sexual assault, mental illness and toxic relationships⚠️
Magpie is a thriller where the storyline is definitely not what it seems from the blurb. A couple looking forward to a beautiful child in a new house and then their life is overtaken by a lodger sounds like a clichéd story, right? That's where the story takes a complete turn which will turn your head.
As a premise this novel works well. But Magpie is a very hard book to read. It should come with major trigger warnings. The subjects of infertility, mental illness, sexual assault and toxic relationships are present in this novel.
My personal opinion is that the author has handled these subjects as just a matter of fact. As a survivor of mental illness I am unhappy about it. It lacks empathy and compassion. I don't even want to go into the subject of a retired doctor taking care of a mentally ill patient. Overall, I was not a big fan of this book. 2.5 stars which I am rounding upto 3 stars for the storyline.

*4.5 Stars On My Instagram Account***

"A magpie...The bird flapped around, panicked by its incarceration."

We never know how our mind will respond when we feel caged. In the twisty psychological thriller Magpie by clever author Elizabeth Day we experience not only a panic confused trapped mind but a skilled storyteller with precision writing skills.

It is best to go into this story blind. It makes the major twist that more shocking and just plain fun. I think my jaw is still on the floor. Beware clues ahead.

Briefly, this story begins with Marisa moving into a new home with Jake. They are hoping to have a baby together. To help with expenses they rent a room to Kate.

Just about halfway through the book everything, and I mean everything, flips. I thought I knew from my constant reading of thrillers where the plot was going and I am very happy to say I was completely wrong.

I read and listened to this one and I have to commend narrator Tanya Reynolds for using her vocal talents to demonstrate how the slightest change in tone can make the same sentence have two different meanings.

This book also has serious takes on the toll of IVF treatments, the repercussions of rape, mental health and forgiveness.

Listening to and reading both Marisa's and Kate's POV I was reminded of the iconic Bruce Willis movie The Sixth Sense. Everything I assumed to be true was the view of a very unreliable narrative and when each scene was re told from an uncaged mind I was flabbergasted and extremely impressed by this author. I wish the ending had a bit more of a thriller vibe but that is just my twisty brain.

I received a free copy of this book and audiobook from the publishers via #netgalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

4+ stars

This book entirely surprised me, I had no idea what to expect as I went into it blind and I was completely engulfed. I finished it within 24 hours despite having family plans that day!

Marisa has it all - a dream boyfriend, a nice house, and a baby on the way. But due to financial concerns, her and her boyfriend Jake are forced to take on a lodger named Kate to subsidize their rent. As Kate settles in, Marisa starts to suspect something more is going on, and notices Jake and Kate are more connected than he let on. Soon she realizes that her dream life is not what it seems…

I initially had no idea what I was getting into with this book, and just when I thought I had it figured out, there was an early twist that took me completely by surprise. From that point on, I could not stop until I figured out what was happening! Who is Kate? What is her relationship with Jake? And, for that matter, do we really know Marisa? I literally could. not. stop! This was a clever, fast-paced read that I really enjoyed, and would definitely read more from Elizabeth Day in the future.

I received this as a widget from the publisher and I could not be more grateful, because this is entirely my type of book! Thank you to Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review! Full review on my IG @manis.and.manuscripts on May 4!

Wow, this book blew me away! I can’t mention most of the story without giving the plot away, but this had me in the edge of my seat until the very end. Just when I had things figured out, something else happened. I figured out several plot points; however, I only figured out the endings, not necessarily the route it took to get there. There were moments I gated the characters, but then cheered them on when the at points too.

There are mentions of infertility, infidelity, and rape, so proceed with caution if these are trigger.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy!

Marissa and Jake appear to have it all an amazing relationship, a new home and now their going to try for a baby. Until some financial issues come up so they decide to take in some one to rent their extra room, their new roommate is Kate. Kate immediately makes herself at home, and she crosses personal boundaries at times. She’s the complete opposite of Marissa, Kate is sporty, skinny and confident. Soon Marissa is certain that Kate has eyes for Jake and a bit obsessed with her. The tables soon turn and we are gut punched with a twist that I did not see coming! I don’t want to give to much away, but wow. This book surprised me and I could not put it down. The characters and the story line were so well written!

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was CRAZY, deliciously dark, and had me questioning everything! All the twists blew my mind! Magpie was very well-written, cleverly crafted, and the characters were well-developed. It's the first I've read from author Elizabeth Day. It's told from both Marisa and Kate's POVs. I couldn't decide who to believe --- Marisa or Kate. Neither seemed like they were telling the truth at times. I had no idea what Elizabeth Day was going to throw at me once I was 50% in. It only got better from there and then a major twist at the end. This book was so unbelievably good! One of my favorite domestic/psychological thrillers of 2022! Highly recommend!

This was an entertaining read and kept my interest. It is told from two points of view and the two narrators have very different stories.

At the beginning of the book we hear from Marisa. Marisa and Jake have moved in togther and are trying for a baby, even though they haven't known each other long. Money is a little tight, so they take in a boarder - Kate. Marisa is uncomforable with Kate and feels like she acts the house it hers and that Kate is way too interested in Marisa's pregnancy status.

Kate's point of view is very much different, and that's where the conflict arises and my eyes flew open in surprise. I don't want to give anything away so I'll stop here.

An interesting and enjoyable read with a real twist. Well-written and well plotted. Thanks to Simon & Schuster through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on May 3, 2022.

This book was a weird ride for me. I was super into it at first. Next, I could see a twist coming, lost interested but stuck it out. Then, I got slammed with another twist and was officially back in. But sadly the second half of the book really dragged and I kept waiting for something exciting to happen and it never did. It’s almost like the plot just fizzled out? While the writing was strong I feel like too many thriller tropes were brought into play and ultimately it just didn’t work for me. Your mileage may vary though!

Whoa, this book is one wild ride! Once I immersed myself in the story of Marisa, Jake, and Kate, I was swept up and along and I couldn't put this book down! Ms. Day hit me with with twist after twist that I didn't see coming. Seriously, this book is so full of misdirection that my head was spinning! This is a thoroughly enjoyable domestic thriller that hit every mark for me. It's a perfect way to spend a rainy day!

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read an advanced digital copy of this very entertaining book!

Magpie by Elizabeth Day

Marisa thinks that she and Jake are the perfect couple. Sure, Jake is somewhat stiff and standoffish, not demonstrative with his affection, and too much of a mama's boy. They've moved in together and Marisa can work on her book creating business and doesn't have to worry about not being able to make her rent anymore. Jake wants Marisa to have his baby, he will never abandon her like her mother did.

So things are maybe almost perfect until Jake's finances require that they take in a lodger named Kate. Now Kate is all in their business, Marisa no longer has Jake to herself, and Kate seems to know everything about their lives. She knows things she shouldn't know as a stranger off the street. She seems to be wedging herself between Marisa and Jake. Marisa can't take Kate trying to destroy her relationship with Jake and her pregnancy hormones are making it harder to handle even the simplest of things.

The story deals well with the constant hoping and heartbreak of dealing with infertility, and infertility treatments, as a couple makes their way down the line of options for a baby they desperately want. We see the first part of the book from Marisa's POV and then we change to another POV and the story is blown wide open. I enjoyed both POVs for the most part but the intrusion of the evil mother in law flattened my enjoyment of the story. No one needs help from that meddling witch. This was a 3.5 read for me but rounding down for evil MIL and an ending that seems too rosy for several reasons.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for this ARC.