Can’t understand why this would be considered a “thriller”.

The author has a great way with the written word but unfortunately way too many words as at a point you just start skimming and saying please get to the conclusion.

Jake was unfortunately in my opinion portrayed as a wuss. A man that couldn’t begin to stand up or for any woman except maybe his mom. The author tried to portray the women as strong but fell short as they all needed someone or something and couldn’t hold up to their own beliefs.

The end also was one of those you said what the heck, really!

Thanks to Net Galley for the advanced reader copy.

I don’t exactly know how to review this. Part one was absolutely brilliant, but after the big twist is revealed, it slows way down and the characters become insufferable. It felt like the author wanted to write a thriller, but got overwhelmed with all the twists she created and just decided to take it in another (boring) direction. I didn’t like the way mental health was addressed, and it felt like the author lumped all mental illnesses into one category, doing a huge disservice to a community that needs more understanding. In addition, I didn’t really understand the whole magpie metaphor, although it’s possible it just went over my head. Unfortunately this book was a miss for me.

I really enjoyed the flow of this. I liked how Day explored relationships through misunderstandings. I wish that the characters had a little more depth to them and that the issue of mental illness in the story wasn't glossed over so much. I did really like that there were several unexpected surprises and the ending was one that I did not see coming. This will appeal to fans of Ruth Ware and Shari LaPena.

Not my favorite book ever. And I tried, oh I really tried. I could not get into the writing style for some reason. I made it to 21% of the book and just didn’t click for me

Marissa and Jake move in together after only three months of dating, both of them intent on starting a family as soon as possible. However, when money trouble forces them to take in a lodger named Kate, their relationship is pushed to the brink when she starts crossing too many boundaries. Not only does Kate become overly familiar with Jake - touching him playfully, making him meals, signing her text messages with little "x's" - but she soon starts to treat their home, and Marisa's pregnancy, as if it were her own.

What is going on? Why is this lodger everywhere, with her nose in everything the couple does? And how come when Marisa grows more unsettled and suspicious about Kate's intentions does Jake brush it aside, or worse, not seem to mind?

As far as domestic thrillers go, "Magpie" is taut, twisted, and psychologically suspenseful. At least for the first half of the story. There's an unexpected twist partway through that changes everything from the narrative point of view to the readers' perception of what is real and which characters they can or cannot trust that gives this book its pulse, that gives it its major surge of adrenaline and intensity. That part was excellent. It kept me on the edge of my seat.

However, I am sorry to say that tension did not last through to the end. While the conflicts between Marisa, Kate, and Annabelle were layered, were laced with a lot of emotional and psychological subtext, they didn't seem to build toward anything concrete or substantial. They tapered off in wayward directions the longer the story progressed. What was the point of that initial twist then? Why the switch up? How come the first and second halves of the plot felt so disconnected?

With that in mind, the climax didn't hit with the wild, crazy KA-BOOM I was anticipating. Instead, it landed with a dull thud that felt disembodied from the rest of the story. So that was disappointing.

I did like the character-driven focus of this, though. There were a lot of insights about mental health, romantic and familial relationships, surrogacy, and infertility that I found to be compelling. Despite my issues with the ending, I thought it was a fast, foreboding read and I'd still recommend it thriller lovers everywhere.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the ARC.

The first half of this book was FIRE. OMG I couldn't put it down, it was a totally compulsive read and something I just had to keep flipping pages.

Then we hit the twist. And OK! Solid twist.

Then it just crawled its way to an ending. I don't want to spoil anything. It was fine. Didn't love, didn't hate, but didn't appreciate the pacing at all, unfortunately.

Funny how you think you have a plot line all figured out and then POW--it takes an amazing twist and you realize the author tricked you. Thanks to author Elizabeth Day this book consumed me for a couple of days and I stayed up late to finish.

The main characters, Marissa, Kate and Jake have a complicated relationship to put it mildly. All of them appear to want the same thing in the beginning of the story and I guess as the plot unfolds they stay consistent in that but without giving away any spoilers -- it gets complicated.

The author's writing was excellent and while some of the book made me a bit uncomfortable at times and the. plot twists and turns kept me on my toes I enjoyed the story line . It held enough surprises to keep me engaged and I enjoyed the ending as well.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a free copy for my honest review.

Wow... I was really shocked at how much I enjoyed this book. I was impressed with the characters and writing style. The suspense throughout really showed up towards the middle of the book and I loved reading this one.

Overall, I really liked this story. I was hooked after only a few chapters and needed to know how it ends. Marisa was so easy to dislike, so it was hard for me to like her at the ending. During Part 2, it felt like Kate was going to be unhinged at some point, which I liked. It felt like there could be another twist coming regarding the baby/Jake and Kate’s relationship. I will be recommending this book to other readers.

Wowza, what a read! Had me hooked from page one!! Well written, with perfect character development, which made sure to capture me in this twisted web and keep me there until I finished! Definitely a twisted tale with lots of twisty turns, thrilling thrills, chilling chills, and gasp worthy shocks! The ending really got me, which is not something that happens often! Highly, highly recommend this deliciously dark and whip lash inducing read!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC of Magpie. This was a great domestic thriller that really showed you how far some women will go to become a mother and protect their child. There were three main women in this story and they each viewed family differently, which added to the drama! I liked how there were multiple POVs throughout the book, which added to the twist about halfway through the book. I would definitely recommend this read!

I found Magpie to be compulsively readable from the start: Marisa and Jake want a baby. Their relationship is simple and easy, so shouldn’t this be easy too? When everything comes to light, we find so many other things are at play… and none of them are good.

The story took a totally different turn than I thought it would, a twist I didn’t see coming. Day’s writing is wonderful, keeping the suspense high and the story moving forward; however, at the end, I found myself wanting something more from it. Ultimately this story delves into motherhood - what it means, what is takes, and what women will do for it. While I felt some of the sacrifices were totally unbelievable, I could see what Day was trying to do., I just wanted a little more.

Definitely a page turner, though! Thanks to Net Galley for the advanced reader copy.

This book blew me away! I was unable to but it down. Perfect, dazzlingly, very well written. The details the author described throughout the book was so amazing. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

The writting style is wonderful and engaging. The book is well paced and the twists (yes, twists) are entertaining. The character development is impressive and really what the book clings to in order to pull off the twists. The way the book deals with infertility and mental illness can be rough for some readers. The big reveal is exciting but I wish there was more of it. That could just be a me thing since I found myself living vicariously through one of the main characters and wanted to savor the short yet pivotal scene.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

Magpie is one of the most surprising books I've read thus far this year. Intertwining the themes of noir, thriller, and gender commentary, Magpie is more than just a book of twists and turns. It is a powerful reflection on gender politics, the complexities of motherhood, and relationships between women. I started this book expecting an all-consuming page-turner, but instead was pulled in by a less urgent yet more thoughtful narrative. I recommend this book to people who enjoyed the themes and complexities of Gone Girl!

I thought that this book was ok until the beginning of the second part. I think if the point was to get people to believe delusions that there really need to be convincing parallels between behaviors and actions between the two women. It just felt like the book switched around and was like this is what is really happening now. You just need to be on board are ready to go with it. This just seemed ridiculous Also, the partner seemed to just be a void and a complete pansy of a man. He was written poorly and was just drug around in the book. He wanted a child, however was not close to done with being one. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley.

About 20% into this book I almost stopped reading it because I wasn’t sure where it was going. Boy am I glad I didn’t stop! What a wild ride. The first plot twist shocked me! I didn’t see it coming at allll. The rest of the story played out quickly and suspensefully, keeping me doubting every single character until the very last page. A slow burn to start but once it started going I couldn’t put it down!

“Marissa and Jake are a perfect couple. And Kate, their new lodger, is the perfect roommate-and not just because her rent payments will give them the income they need to start trying for the baby of their dreams. Except-no one is truly perfect. Sure Kate doesn’t seem to care much about personal boundaries and can occasionally seem overly-familiar with Jake. But Marissa doesn’t let it concern her, knowing that soon Kate will be gone, and it will just be her, and Jake and their future baby”

OK. This was a suspenseful read, and very engaging in the beginning and the way things were going, I thought I almost had it figured out. The twist I thought was coming was not at all what I expected. Then, the story took a different direction and can’t say I was disappointed. I can’t explain it but I went along with it and it wasn’t so bad. So hopefully the little sway that this story took doesn’t disappoint anyone.

TW: infertility issues, motherhood, surrogacy, mental health

Thank you @netgalley, @simonandschuster and author for this advance digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Interesting story with lots of twists and turns. A great beach read. Well thought out plot and characters well developed.

What a good thriller. I did guess that there was an unreliable narrator very early on but I think it is because I read too many thrillers. The language and imagery used worked well for the book and had me laughing at times. I would have liked a more twisted ending but I still enjoyed it overall. I do find that infertility is used a lot in books and it does make me wonder if people who have dealt with infertility enjoy reading about it?