I ended up liking this is -ish, but it was tough going for a while. Marisa is a difficult character to like, and when Kate starts to tell her side of the story, she also seems distant and analytic, reporting her feelings in a way that didn’t make me feel them along with her. This story is about motherhood, but I can’t tell you much more about it without giving too much away.

The author uses the phrase “the smile didn’t reach her eyes” multiple times, and while I understand this, it’s already become a cliché, and one that an author can’t use more than once per novel, let alone multiple times.
The psychological wackiness of this is compelling and page turning. It gets better at 30 percent, more interesting at 50 percent, and much better at the end—you can decide if you want to not enjoy 90 percent of a book.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this novel, which RELEASES MAY 3 in the United States.

Thank you to NetGalley and Elizabeth Day for the opportunity to read this eARC.

For all the mamas out there, this book really feels like a punch to the gut. I was completely hooked by fifty pages in. Would you let the perfect stranger into your perfect home with your perfect baby? How many people have you trusted your children with?
Magpie had me second guessing everyone I have ever let put a hand on my children. This is a gripping tale that will have you flipping pages and staying up way to late to finish!

Well I didn't see that twist coming!. I read this in one sitting, I couldn't put it down. I want to write more, but don't want to ruin the story. It is best if you go into this one blind. It was completely unexpected and an overall excellent read. Thank you Netgalley and the publisher, Simon & Schuster, for a chance to read this e-ARC prior to publication for my honest review

Magpie focuses on two women. Marisa moves in with relatively new boyfriend Jake and is excited to try to have a baby. For economic reasons, they take in a boarder, Kate, who takes an uncomfortable interest in Jake and has no respect for boundaries. I was gobsmacked by the twist in the middle of the novel and anxiously read on, but the second half of the book dragged a bit to the rather lackluster ending.

This book is so up my alley, I knew as soon as I read the synopsis that I needed to read it and I'm so glad I did. I enjoyed the unreliable narrator aspect, and the dual POV, though it didn't last long. I thought the writing was so well done because in the beginning I was truly rooting for the wrong person and ultimately didn't realize who I would end up disliking. This book reminded me of the movie Hush that starred Gwyneth Paltrow back in the 90's but with an updated twist. TWs of infertility and surrogacy gone slightly wrong, just fyi.

When a couple chooses to have a child via a surrogate their lives take several turns. A page turner to the end

I was excited to dig into and the beginning had everything I hope for in a thriller. I was questioning characters, including the narrator and trying to guess what would happen next, until Part II starts. As soon as the POV changes at about a third of the way in it becomes a little too clear what's happening and takes away a lot of the suspense since we now have a reliable narrator. Not to spoil anything but it leaned a little too deep into 'crazy women' trope and never called into question the men in the story which was frustrating. I also feel like a lot of the plots that brought depth to characters weren't wrapped up or tied into the story enough.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honesty review.

A couple newly moved in together takes in a lodger to help them along.
Insecurities and suspicions sort of quickly come along to add stress to the whole situation.
I picked up this book just to start it off but ended up finishing it off quite quickly.

When will couples ever learn? You never hire an au pair if you want your partner to be faithful: do not have a surrogate who becomes your friend; and if your man’s mother adds an ‘ey’ to the end of your hubbys name-I.e. ‘jakey’. I thought this was predictable initially and with the twist, I was so happy I was wrong! Really easy to read and a good thriller!’

This book was so good I literally stayed up all night and read it in one sitting. Without giving away major plot points or spoilers, the multiple viewpoint setup was very well done, and it was great to read the scenes through different lenses. Well-crafted and taut, it elicited sympathy for all the characters, even though there were points where I alternately loved and got annoyed with all of them.

"Magpie" surprised me. The twist in the story that I had been expecting never happened. Instead, there were some rather unexpected twists in the story of Kate, Jake, and Marisa. The book explores the lengths that women will go to in order to have children, and the pain and devastation of infertility -- getting your hopes up, thinking that finally this time everything will work out, only to have hopes crushed yet again. The book also explores the power of motherhood (and to a lesser extent, parenthood more generally) and the steps a mother (or parents) will take to protect their child(ren), and how good intentions can become distorted, and the pain and problems it can cause. The story also addresses mental illness, and the struggles that mental illness can bring.

I received a copy of the e-book via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

This novel of suspense features three characters whose lives are intertwined by relationships. Marisa and Jake have been together for a number of years and have tried to have a baby with no success, so they decide to go the route of using a surrogate. For almost the first half of the book I was fully engaged although I didn't quite like Marisa and something about Jake's behavior made him seem just a little off.

At first, the fact that they brought in a larger to help with expenses seemed logical and didn't hint at the truth behind who Kate really is. There were hints that not was all as it seemed on the surface, and the writing was good enough that I kept reading with interest, but then the storyline got off track for me.

I don't want to spoil things for potential readers, so I'm not going to say specifically what the plot twists were that I found totally unbelievable. I'll just say that the second half of the book did not live up to the first half of the book.

Lots of really good stuff in this book. Overall, I really enjoyed it, Full of twists and turns which made the book fun and interesting. Quick and easy read. I recommend it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book.

A domestic drama with a big twisty about-face, this is tricky to review without unveiling the twist. Elizabeth Day’s writing is superb, but the plot drags at times and the relationships between the characters are a little irritating. There are some themes that are uncomfortable in how they’re portrayed (the “is she crazy?” trope) and after a fast-paced and exciting first half, the ending dragged and then limped across the finish line.

I would read another by Elizabeth Day because I do like her writing style, but this particular book was not my favorite.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is an entertaining read that focuses on the tension between two women, Marisa and Kate and is told from their perspectives.
We are introduced to Marisa who has been seeing Jake for a few months, but when he asks her to move in with him and to start trying for a baby, she believes that he is the one. When they take in a lodger, Kate, their relationship is put to the test when Kate seems to show an interest in Jake, along with the baby Marisa is carrying.
After getting past the first chapter, I was unable to put the book down. The twist and turns kept me reading and wanting to get to the end to find out the "truth."
If you start this and aren’t enjoying it, stick with it. It won’t take long before it draws you in.

I hate leaving less than three stars on a book, but I'm super disappointed with this story. The description made it sound like the type of book I would devour, but there were parts I had to force myself through. It started off good, then went downhill so quickly. In all honesty, if this weren't an arc, I would have DNFed it. I kind of wish I did, because the ending (the last few chapters) were a huge disappointment. I will say, the character development is good and its definitely got thriller-vibes, but it just misses the mark in so many ways.

Like with most books I rate less than 3 stars, I have to say: I didn't enjoy this book; but you might!

This book was very boring to me. The second part just repeated itself over and over..

Marisa may have only known Jake a few months, but she has never felt this certain about anyone. When he asks her to move in with him and they start trying for a baby, She knows she has finally found the steadfast love and support she has been looking for all her life. Their relationship is tested when they take in a lodger, Kate, who has little regard for personal boundaries and seems to take an uncomfortable interest in Jake – as well as the baby they are hoping to have.

Read it yourself and post your own review

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review

**

This book goes back and forth from interesting to boring throughout. There were so many unnecessary and drawn out scenes.

The first twist was pretty good, but after that it just became a chore to read.

I did like how relatable Kate was in trying to get pregnant. I had a lot of the same thoughts and feelings through my time.

Familiar tropes ( is she crazy or just psycho?) told in a new way!

I enjoyed the alternating POV chapters, but the main dude felt flat as a character and I wanted to know more about him. I also felt like the end just glossed over a lot of things.🤷🏻‍♀️

If you like domestic dramas and enjoyed The Mothers but wanted Tarryn Fisher style dramatics this is a book you'll like.

Marisa meets Jake; they fall in love and move in together. They take a roommate, Kate, who grows too close to Jake. A violent scene ensues. Suddenly life turns upside down. The reader finds out that Kate and Jake are in love and want a baby. Many attempts to conceive have been unsuccessful so they have hired Marisa to be their surrogate. Confusing? Elizabeth Day explains through their storyline and the supporting characters who provide background for the three principals. Their frequent mood swings are exhausting at times. The explanations for their behavior are sometimes too pat, unsatisfactory and disappointing. The tables have turned more than once; will they turn again? Whose baby is about to be born? How significant is the title? There are, however, suspenseful moments to hold one’s interest to the conclusion.