It is hard to tell much about this book without giving away plot lines because the author deftly reveals one secret early that turns the trajectory of the story very quickly. That one surprised me and I felt vested in the book and ready to go. After that, it fell flat and the ending was incredibly underwhelming. I think the word that describes my reading experience with this book best is unsatisfying. It’s billed as a thriller, but it’s really not.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC.

SYNOPSIS: A psychological suspense novel about a perfect couple and their seemingly perfect roommate - that is until she threatens to destroy everything they worked so hard to create.

🪶REVIEW: Before I lead into my review I’d like to say that I normally don’t include content warnings, but if you’re someone who struggles with infertility, I would not recommend this book. I also can’t reveal too much in my review without spoilers. That being said..

I would definitely classify this novel as a domestic suspense, and you know I’m all about the domestics! It started out dark, which I was here 👏 for 👏 . The book caught my attention from the beginning, and then..

There was a TWIST shortly before the midway point that BLEW my mind! I mean it came outta nowhere and just got me! This is why I’m a fan of domestic suspense!!

You’ve got an unreliable narrator, you have gaslighting, you’ve got unlikeable characters (you’re going to HATE the husband’s mother the most), we are tackling difficult issues in marriage, and what I liked a lot was - what does it mean to be a mother? What makes a mother? The author does this in a super dark, suspenseful way throughout (almost) the entire book, so this is why I was hooked.

Where my rating fell off a bit was the end. It’s like we threw out the darkness and replaced it with too much sunshine, forgetting the entire vibe of the book. It was all wrapped up in this pretty bow and I definitely wanted something a bit more sinister.

Overall, I think this book is going to lead to excellent discussions and is going to be a good one to read if you’re a fan of the genre.

🪶VERDICT: 3.75 STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

Thank you so much to @simonandschuster and @netgalley for an ARC of this one! It hits shelves 5/3/22!

This book was shocking.

Magpie starts out with us reading from Marisa's perspective, describing her and Jake's journey of meeting, falling in love, and getting pregnant. Halfway through Part 1, Marisa and Jake invite lodger Kate into their home to help ease their financial burdens.

Part 1 continues describing the rapid progression of Marisa and Jake's relationship and the suspicion Marisa develops towards Kate, who encroaches into all areas of their lives. We also get flashbacks to Marisa's childhood, with her relationship with her mother and sister bringing me chills.

While I enjoyed the discussion of motherhood and relationships throughout the first half of the book, the transition to Part 2 blew me away. I continuously found myself second guessing how I thought the plot would end. I had such a good time reflecting back to Part 1 with each new development of Part 2. All of the characters felt unreliable to me at at least one point, so it was nearly impossible to predict what would come next.

I do think Elizabeth Day stretched the book out longer than necessary and found myself losing interest during the last 20%. I was a bit disappointed with how the relationship between Jake, Marisa, and Kate ended, but the wild ride getting to that point made up for it.

Overall, I enjoyed the many twists and surprises this book had to offer and found myself shocked over and over again.

I really liked how this started. The first half is one version of the story and then it leads into another version. It really kept me guessing and wanting to read on to see what would happen. I felt that the ending was a little flat and contrived.

Wow! Lots of twists and drama. i never expected the outcome. But I totally enjoyed the read. Story starts with Marisa and her new beau Jake. They move in together and take on a lodger. And then……. A must read.

I have to say that for the first half of this book, I was intrigued. Then, honestly, it just turned into one big mess. We start reading about Marissa and Jake, in a new relationship, deciding to move in together, who want to start trying for a baby. Money starts running tight, and lodger Kate enters, which Marissa is not too happy about. Suspicions arise, and I honestly cannot go into any further details without ruining the plot for those who have not read it. I felt like I was immersed in one story, and then boom, all of a sudden, I am re-reading the same story all over again with major role reversals. And, of course, we have the manipulative, rich, snobby, controlling mother who babies her one and only son, and tries to manipulate and control his life plot coming into play. I really regret even spending 1 day reading this, and it took me a week to finish because I was just busy doing other things. The only positive thing I have to say about this book, is that it does cover the struggles of infertility pretty well, but gives a bad light to some who may suffer from mental illness. I just feel this was a complete waste of my time. I will not complain about the author's writing style, because I actually enjoyed it. I just don't think this story was well executed at all. 2 stars.

“Magpie” is my second Elizabeth Day novel amd I was excited to get an ARC of it. The story opens with new couple, Jake and Marisa, moving into their new house in London. They take in a lodger, Kate. to help with finances and so begins a tense love triangle.
I adored Day’s first book, “The Party.” She uses a multi narrator technique in that story too and it works much better.
I felt like the twist was introduced too soon in the story and the plot devolved into melodrama.
Overall, Day is a good writer and I do enjoy her characters.

This book as an Experience with a capital “E.” Though some of the subject matter made me uncomfortable, I was drawn in by the writing and unsettled by the plot.

First, let me say that the quality of the writing in this book is superior to the writing in many of its thriller contemporaries. I was captivated by the author’s writing style and found the book to be especially interesting in the first half while the mystery was unfolding. I figured out the twist halfway through but was still surprised with the way it unfolded.

However, I had some conflicting feelings about the ultimate message of this book. This is pretty hard to explain without spoiling. So broadly, I will say that I was somewhat uncomfortable with the approach this book took toward mental illness and also towards “crazy women.”. I’m sure most of you are familiar with the thriller trope of “is this thing really happening or is this person mentally ill?” I normally enjoy this trope, but in this case I felt rather uncomfortable with the way the subject of the possible mental illness was depicted, especially with regard to some particular issues women face. It verged at times into stereotypes and messages about “crazy women” that I did not enjoy.

Nonetheless, I really enjoyed the author’s talent - her skill at creating a compelling narrative, her sense of foreboding, and her overall way with words were very enjoyable to read. So this was a mixed bag experience for me. I would definitely love to read another book by this author but I would just rather not see mental illness depicted again the way it was here.

3.5 stars - I would round up for the reading experience, but ultimately am rounding down because the treatment of the subject matter just left me feeling uncomfortable. Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC!

This book did not do it for me at all - I was hoping for some amazing plot twist but unfortunately this entire book felt like a bad Lifetime Movie Network type of book.

This book was SO twisty, and I never saw the twists coming. I couldn't put it down! Magpie does such a wonderful job of making you question reality. I will say, definitely could have done without the evil mother in law.

Magpie was completely unexpected, but in a good way. It was one of those books that lets you think you know where it's going, and then hits you with a twist you didn't see coming and totally changes how you see the characters and their situations. It is a book about female toxicity and a book about motherhood, a book about friendships, relationships and family in all of its dysfunctional glory.

I understand that the topics covered in the book might be difficult for some people to read about, but I thought that they were dealt with sensitively but also in a way that encourages discussion. Seeing infertility, miscarriage, surrogacy and mental illness through the eyes of the different people involved was very insightful.

A clever and intense psychological thriller that was impossible to put down.

Thanks Netgalley for an ARC of this book.

I would give this 2.5 stars. The premise is not bad, Marisa and her boyfriend Jake are expecting a baby and need some extra cash and decide to let Kate move in with them. But soon Kate is acting overly friendly with Jake.

The beginning of this book is really slow to get started, the middle is fast paced and the end drags again. None of these characters have much depth, nor are any particularly likeable, except for Jake’s dad and that’s probably because we know nothing about him.

I would add a trigger warning for mental illness, as it’s depicted in a somewhat careless, throwaway manner.

AMAZING!! This book had me hooked from the very beginning! Right away I felt like I knew what was going to happen, but did the author throw me for a loop!!!! This story had so many twists, I thought I was actually losing my mind instead of the characters!! The writing and character development was great as well. This story definitely takes you for a ride!

Book Review 📚 📚📚

⭐⭐⭐.5

This is my first ARC and I'm very thankful to be reviewing it ♡

Quick Summary*
This book starts with Marisa and Jake. They start dating, move in together and try for a baby just as fast as I wrote that. 🤷‍♀️ Times get rough with money and they have to get a roommate. Kate moves in and Marisa feels she gets really comfortable too quickly. When the character POV changes to Kate it's a COMPLETELY different situation. So let me just say, you have to read it.

This book shows the severity of mental health struggles, The pain of infertility, and the heaviness it can put on a family.

The ending was pleasant, not what I was expecting. Nice but im sorry to say boring. I know, I know you should be happy with a happy ending but 🤷‍♀️ I wasn't. Definitely worth the read, I'm very grateful I got to read this one early thanks to @simonandschuster

Magpie is a thriller that follows Marisa and Jake, a new couple in a whirlwind romance that decide to move in together and try to have a baby after only dating for a few months. When Jake’s work slows down, the couple decide to invite a lodger into their home to help pay the bills. When Kate moves in, she seems very comfortable in the home. And with Jake. Marisa has to try and figure out if her pregnancy hormones are making Kate’s friendly nature more than it is or if there is something else going on.

Content Warnings in this book for any kind of pregnancy related trigger. Also sexual assault.

This book is such an easy book to get absorbed in. A big twist happens earlier than expected so I found myself wanting to find out what else could happen. So if you want a very fast paced, domestic thriller, this one checks that box perfectly.

My biggest issue with this book is something that I can’t look beyond and it’s that I feel like mental illness is used as a crutch and an excuse for certain behaviors. I do not suffer from the illness in this book so I can’t speak on how true the representation is but it felt very wrong to me the way it was used. I feel like the way the characters handled the situation was in poor taste.

I did enjoy the writing style a lot and look forward to reading more books by this author but this just wasn’t the best for me.

The plot begins with Marisa and Jake in what by all accounts is a super speedy, adoring relationship. They move real quick. Almost immediately Marisa wants to start a family with ultra perfect (aren’t they always?) Jake. But then, the plot thickens as Jake doesn’t actually turn out to be who Marisa thought he was.
Marisa’s plans at a future with Jake seem to fall flat. Mostly because of a lodger named Kate who makes herself a little too comfortable in Marisa’s home. Something isn’t right with her, and Marisa is determined to find out.

Definitely slow to start, and then everything is crammed into the last half of the story.
I found that most of the characters were terribly unlikable, but I could understand why in the end.
The storyline kept my attention and it was not predictable in the least bit, so bravo for that!

Magie is a mix between Gone Girl, Woman in the Window, and something unique that Day puts her own influence into. Marisa and Jake are the perfect couple, trying for a baby and moving into a new home. Their relationship is new, but with Jake's age, they feel that moving quickly makes sense. Enter Kate, the new lodger (renter) that is occupying space in their new home and becoming quite friendly with Jake. Not all is what it seems between the three adults and midpoint through the story, Day brings in the heat.

What I Liked:
- Seeing multiple POVs in different parts of the story
- The back and forth from past to present
- Kate

What I Didn't Like
- I felt that the "ah-ha" moment came too soon and it was rather abrupt
- I thought it was quite predictable and as soon as the "ah-ha" moment came, I played out the rest of the story in my head.

Overall, a great thriller that is a quick read. If you're a fan of psychological thrillers, this is a great one!

Admittedly, I requested this book because one of the protagonists shares my name! But I'm glad I requested it and read it because it's a gripping thriller. I've seen some reviews saying that the twist was obvious, but I don't think it was. I didn't see it coming, though once The Big Twist was revealed, I saw the signs, which I think is clever writing. I'm conflicted as to how I feel about the handling of mental illness throughout the novel. On one hand, the author's portrayal reads as realistic with the reactions of those around the mentally ill character being realistic, too. On the other hand, however, I kind of felt like it was a superficial look at a very serious, misunderstood, and misrepresented type of illness. But THAT being said, I'm pleased with the ending that the mentally ill character gets because it's not one you see often. (I'm trying not to give away spoilers in this review, so please forgive the vague references and lack of explanations/examples!)

Overall, Magpie is a good thriller that was great at keeping me absorbed in the story. I also love the name Marisa :)

I really really enjoyed this book! It read like a domestic thriller, though I didn't find it scary. I found it to be more suspenseful, fast, and it kept me on my toes. I enjoyed the split perspective and the themes of motherhood and mental illness. This was a pleasant surprise!

This book had me hooked from the very beginning. Magpie is a creepy psychological thriller. I totally did not see the huge twists and turns coming. I really love all the dual narratives in this book. I read this book in one day because I could not set the book down. I enjoyed reading this book and trying to figure out which character was telling the truth. This was a good read for anyone looking for a fast paced twisty thriller read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster and Elizabeth Day for this ARC of Magpie.