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.

It's difficult to say much about Magpie by Elizabeth Day without giving out spoilers. The story starts a little slow, but does pick up. Marisa and Kate give us their point of view. Ms Day has definitely created the mother-in-law from hell! I want to thank NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an early copy to review.

Magpie: review
Genre: General Fiction / Thriller / Mystery
Pub date: May 3, 2022
Rating: 3/5 stars

A twisted three-some drama showcasing the complications of creating a family.
“Marisa 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.”

Big thank you to Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read!

Marketed as general fiction and thriller/mystery but, after reading, I’d call this more of a family drama. The drama is THICK in this one. Elizabeth Day has a beautiful style of writing that is very descriptive and there are many clever similes and metaphors within that makes it very easy to create a picture of characters, settings, and plot events. I felt all emotions toward the main players in the storyline at some point throughout the story; empathy, sadness, frustration, anger, annoyance, support, joy. I liked them all at one point and was irritated with them all at other points.

Things I liked:
Day’s style of writing
The ending
Multiple perspectives/dual timelines (present and past)

Things I didn’t care for:
There is one main twist in the plot but is lacking in other events to keep interest. I needed resolution so I kept reading but I felt it was a lot of building with not a lot of shock factor that I was waiting for. The one twist is good (and shockingly obvious) but I was left wanting more.

Before reading or recommending, check the trigger warnings. This content may be disturbing or discouraging for some readers. ❤️
Will definitely be checking out more of Day’s work after this one

I'm so grateful for the opportunity to get an advanced copy of Magpie by Elizabeth Day. I thoroughly love a twisty turn-filled story and this one delivered. I loved the set up and the character perspective shifts, as well as the characters. They were well-rounded and had excellent characterization. I also like how the story ended on a positive note instead of a dark one. I would've loved to have one last chapter from Marisa's point of view rather than being told what was going on in her world. But fully enjoyed this page-turner and will definitely read more from Elizabeth Day.

Review posted on goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4570509829?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

Well, that was a twist! This was a fairly quick read, with the need to keep reading causing me to stay up and finish it in one day.

I felt like this book started out really strong, but finished really weak. Part I is told from Marisa’s perspective, who we believe to be the pregnant partner of Jake. Their relationship appears to take a hit when they must take on a lodger to help cover bills. Kate is difficult to like & appears to be an interloper in the lives of the couple.

It is only as Part I segues into Part II that it became obvious to me Marisa had been lying all along. She had in fact been impersonating herself as Jake’s girlfriend, when we find out she is actually the couple’s surrogate. The story takes an even more disturbing turn when we discover she is suffering from manic depression & attempts to hurt Kate.

From this point, I continued to wait for something to happen-some plot twist or mind-blowing occurrence, as it seemed unlikely the story would peak so early. I found it very far-fetched that Jake’s mom became an antagonist & tried to spin Marisa’s mental health issue against Kate. Then all of a sudden Marisa was coming to Kate’s defense against Annabelle after all of the awful things that had happened amongst the trio. Tying up the story with a neat little bow & the couple taking a stroll with their newborn son was such a weak way to end the story. Marisa went traveling the world & Jake’s parents weren’t heard from any more. Bland and with no real point-much like Annabelle’s cooking.

So much potential, just needed a stronger ending.

Magpie is a fun, easy to read, fast-paced suspense novel that revolves around Jake and Marisa's happy little life - beautiful new home, baby on the way, perfect relationship... that's disrupted when they invite a roommate into their home to help with the rent.

What I Liked:
- What a ride! I was so excited to get to the next chapter. I purposely made myself take my time with Magpie, but I could've easily finished in a couple of days.
- I am always a fan of alternating POVs and alternating timelines. Magpie has a bit of both and they're used quite well.
- I was legitimately SHOCKED once. Like mouth fell open, swore under my breath SHOCKED. Who doesn't love that in a thriller??
- I don't want to give anything away but WHOO, one character is FUN to hate. I disliked them but I ENJOYED disliking them.

What I Didn't Like:
- This is a bit hard to put into words but... the story is messy (in a good, chaotic, fictional way). Infertility is messy, emotions are messy, people are messy, LIFE is messy. But the moments where things all come to a head in Magpie are so... CLEAN. From a book full of so much great suspenseful mess, I was genuinely surprised at how neatly it all tied up.
- I think this book being labeled as a "thriller" ultimately does it a disservice. For me, it falls soundly under a domestic suspense but not a thriller.

It took me a day or so to figure out what I wanted to rate this. I think reading this as an ARC made me overthink it - at the end of the day, this is a fun to read, surprising domestic suspense... and the more I thought about it, the more I liked it!

Full review and links to social will be posted closer to publication date.

I'd like to thank the publisher Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I love a good thriller, and Elizabeth Day delivered on this one. The writing style was great, captivating and anxiety-inducing without feeling way too forced. I was fully on board for all the twists and turns this story took; TRUST NO ONE! The ending was a little too perfectly wrapped with a bow on top for my personal taste, but it didn't fully ruin the whole experience for me.

Very fun, super quick read. Definitely recommend.

This book started out great. It built up perfectly, the climax was fantastic, but then the falling action and resolution were real letdowns.

Marisa moves in with her boyfriend Jake, and before long they’re expecting. By taking in lodger Kate to bring in some additional money, Jake and Marisa begin to make their new house a true home. But not everything is at it seems, and Jake begins spending more and more time with Kate, ignoring Marisa and her growing baby. Angering Marisa and causing her to take matters into her own hands, she will stop at nothing to protect her baby.

Triggers: mental illness, infertility, and sexual assault.

Thank you to @netgally and publisher

Dnfed at 20%

This book was just a mess! It was boring for a thriller. The book was written well but the plot didn’t move fast enough. Thrillers are supposed to grab you from the first page but this one did the opposite. It was boring and so domestic

I thoroughly enjoyed Magpie by Elizabeth Day. This fast-paced thriller kept me turning pages late into the night. Characters were richly developed and for the most part likeable. Cleverly revealed details shifted my perspective more than once! A superbly told tale of relationships that kept me fascinated right through the end. If you like fast-paced psychological thrillers with a bit of evil, you won't be disappointed!

Thank you #Netgalley for the advanced copy!

We start out with the perspective of Marisa and her boyfriend Jake. They move in together quickly and both agree they want to have a baby. Due to the new place and increased costs, Jake suggests they take in a lodger to help with the costs of the home. Marisa quickly feels that the lodger, Kate, has been overstepping her boundaries and may be having an affair with Jake. We watch Marisa spiral as she tries to learn what is happening in her home. Then we go into part 2, too many twists that I did not see coming. Can't share what is next to ruin the surprises, but wow. Things aren't always what you expect, always get each perspective before you judge.