I started off absolutely hating the three main characters in this book. I truly got so frustrated, irritated, and just disgusted with each of them until part two when it’s like the book completely shifts on its axis and I couldn’t put it down.
It was such a wild ride. It’s tense, dramatic, suspenseful, dark and heavy at times, but it also has a happy ending which I was not anticipating up until the last few chapters.
In the end, I actually ended up liking the three main characters and really enjoyed the book. You really do experience a very full range of emotions while reading this book.
Definitely recommend this book to those that enjoy domestic suspense and psychological thrillers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was sent to me electronically for review by Netgalley. The author has written a story of intrigue and mystery...what will happen next? Who will do what? Who is real? Who is faking? Friendship...love...romance...mystery...all combined in this book to hold the reader's attention for an afternoon...a quick read, although the story does move a little slowly occasionally...At times, it was difficult to determine which character might do what...but a good read.

I love a deliciously unreliable narrator, and there are more than one of those here in this story of love, infertility and surrogacy. This gripping novel held my attention throughout, surprised me several times without my feeling there had been red herrings throwing me off the trail, and left me satisfied. I shaved off a star for a few moments stretching credulity a bit, but overall this novel was an excellent read.

When you primarily read only books in the mystery/thriller genre you tend to guess the twists and the whodunnits fairly quickly. It is rare when you either find a book with a plot that hasn’t been recycled or reused ad nauseum or a book that actually has a twist you weren’t able to predict was coming. Magpie by Elizabeth Day didn’t have an overly unique plot from the synopsis on the back of the book- happy couple takes in lodger who isn’t quite what she seems- has been done far too many times to count BUT that wasn’t entirely what the premise of this book was and Elizabeth Day was able to make this book unique and different. Where Day really shined was in the twist halfway through the book that I didn’t see coming at all and it threw me for a loop in the best way! In fairness, the book did seem to take a predictable route from there on out although swerving a bit at the end to give it another twist that wasn’t exactly what you were expecting. Once I got midway through the book I found it impossible to put down and spent the better part of the day reading just so I could find out how it ended. 4 solid stars ⭐️

I enjoyed trying to predict what would happen next, and the surprises along the way. I enjoyed the readability of the book, while also being surprised at some of the twists. I loved how the story began from Marissa’s point of view, which really sucked me in as a reader when things started to go wrong.

While it was more of suspense, I enjoyed being drawn in to the plot line. Many women could relate to Kate’s character, and slowly empathizing with her as the story progressed. I appreciated the ending, being left with few questions, and getting a sneak peak to the future. Thank you for sharing the book!

This book was a rollercoaster ride! I feel like I can't say much without giving away the premise of the book, but a great, exciting story!

Magpie is the next psychological thriller everyone will be talking about online. The protagonist has flaws, and the reader may figure things out before the main character. The storytelling is gripping, and the backstory compellingly deals with issues that affect many women. Magpie would be a great book club pick!

I received an ARC of Magpie in exchange for this honest review. Please note this book has a trigger warning for infertility and miscarriage.

Day brings us into the world of yuppy Londoners who want to have it all. After a whirlwind romance, Jake and Marissa move in together and talk about starting a family. But the couple finds themselves in a house they can't afford, and Jake suggests they take on a border. What could go wrong?

The storyline is interesting, and the sections are well organized and complement each other, almost symmetrically unfolding the story. This book is fun in a way only the medium of books can because the imagery comes alive in the reader's imagination. It's something film and television can't achieve, especially for an unreliable narrator.

I give Magpie 4 stars. It's well-paced, compelling characters, and a few interesting twists that will keep you wondering what happens next.

This book was just OK for me. Not terrible, not fantastic, just OK.

I thought the characters of Marisa, Jake, and Kate were very well developed. (It's always a sign of good writing when that happens!) Elizabeth Day is a very talented writer who has a way with words.

The reason I wasn't in love with the book was because of the subject matter (fertility issues, mental health). I felt the story could have been told better instead of slapping an unspecified mental health disorder as a bandaid. If the subject matter makes you feel uncomfortable, this book should probably be a skip for you.

I look forward to seeing what Elizabeth Day puts out next and hope it's more thriller and less triggering.

Magpie really took me by surprise by how much I enjoyed this read - I flew through it in one day! I related well to the fertility struggles of the character and think the author did a good job of describing in detail not only the specifics behind the science, but also the emotions that go with being a woman during this challenging time. I loved the one major twist in parts 1 and 2 between the two central female characters and how the rest of the book played out for them. I'm still deciding how I feel about the ending and the mother in law's role in the events that ensued, but overall I found this to be an enticing read. I think this book would be most interesting for woman trying to conceive while it could be a trigger for those struggling with infertility and their mental health.

Wow. This was a one-sitting read for me. I couldn’t put it down! I was truly gasping out loud at some of the twists . She did a fabulous job of crafting the story so that every time I was SURE I knew what was coming, she surprised me again! I found the ending to be a bit unrealistic and there were definitely a few eye roll moments for me but overall, this was a super entertaining, thrilling read.

I received this ARC from NetGalley (thank you!)

TW: Sexual Assault, Fertility, Mental Illness

Despite their conception troubles, Marisa and Jake are the perfect couple. As they struggle with fertility treatments, they invite a new lodger to their home. The lodger’s boundaries quickly become blurred and Marisa wants to find out more about her.

This was a great thriller. It was exactly how I like them: exciting, twisty, but also realistic and not too over the top. I wasn’t exactly sure where this story was going and it definitely went in directions I wasn’t expecting. There was an intensity the whole time due to the sensitive topic of infertility. I would go out of your way to avoid spoilers with this one!

“She was foolish to have believed in their future. Because happiness was transient. She would find this out when the lodger came.”

Magpie republishes 5/3

I really enjoyed this book. The storyline was great and the characters were well developed. I will definitely be looking for more by this author!

Domestic thriller about motherhood, relationships and infertility; this book was well written and contained a number of twists and turns. The book starts out with Marisa, a children's book illustrator who meets Jake who works in finance. The couple fall in love and buy a house together and immediately start to trying to have children, despite being together only a few months. After Marisa becomes pregnant, the couple find themselves short of money and decide to rent a bedroom to a lodger who turns out to be Kate. As with most thrillers, whenever a third person enters the picture, there are always problems and issues that arise and here Marisa becomes convinced Kate is interested in Jake.

The second part of this book is from Kate's point of view and I can't say much about what happens without spoiling the plot. The author does a good job of describing the settings, even the little things like the sun shining through the blinds comes alive and sets the scenes. However, the plot doesn't hold together and so much of the twist depends on the initial relationships being believable. In addition to the trio of characters we meet Jake's parents and his mother is the typical mother in law from hell, and we meet Marisa's friend Jas. The book is tightly woven with only a few characters and the ins and outs of their relationship provides the mystery elements.

Despite the number of twists in the story, I was never fully engaged or believed the actions of the characters. It was also a bit problematic in how it dealt with mental illness and the way mentally ill people behave. Good writing but needs work on the plot. I did like the explorations on motherhood and infertility. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

was really gunning for a domestic thriller a la the push but instead this book decided to collapse on overdone thriller tropes
examples include: insane/hysterical mother with unspecified mental illness, evil mother in law, “crazy” woman w no other traits than traumatized past and being a conflict
and then ending was such a let down too - so mediocre, the twist flopped, too simple final chapters
it’s easy enough to read but just acts as a shabby excuse for a domestic thriller

This was a quick, easy read that moved at a nice pace. However, I really dislike stories about “unhinged women”, especially when the surrogate aspect is included. So, this was just an ok book for me!

I have to start by saying that I really enjoyed this book. I thought I had it all figured out about a quarter of the way in, but then it changed. Once again, I thought I had it figured out and it twisted again! I liked the story line, but found the last quarter of the book pretty anticlimactic. It seemed the author needed to wind it up and tie a neat bow.

#Magpie #NetGalley Thank you to the publisher and @NetGalley for the E-ARC copy of this book. The rating of this book is entirely of my own opinion.

I really really enjoyed parts of this book, and I didn’t care for parts of this book. The first half of the book had me totally captivated- I couldn’t read it fast enough. But then it seemed like the author couldn’t decide who the “bad guy” should be. I felt like the two giant problems got wrapped up a little too neatly and easily. I did read the book very quickly, and I didn’t guess what the twist was going to be. I think this book is definitely worth a read!

This definitely seems to be a novel that people either really love or really didn’t like at all. I am in the latter camp.

I had a near impossible time getting into this slow paced story but kept at it until the bitter end over a period of weeks.

Not a thriller, not for me, using mental health issues as such a trope is appalling. Not a recommendation.

This book was given to me as an ARC through NetGalley. There may be spoilers.

As someone who just gave birth a month ago, this book very much resonated with me. I had also enjoyed The Party by this author so was excited to read another of their books.

Magpie is about a girl named Marisa that moves in with her much older boyfriend and they decide to have a baby.. or is it? I loved the twists in this book, it kept making you guessing whose POV was trustworthy.

I would definitely recommend this book if you love books with multiple twists and turns and unreliable narrators.