I always look forward to a Ruth Ware novel, and this one was a quick and fun read. It's giving Caroline Calloway meets Lily Kane, with a dash of The Secret History and dark academia. Alternating between the past and the present, with Hannah questioning whether she put the wrong man in prison for the murder of her college best friend, its short chapters and frequent clues (and red herrings) kept me turning the pages. I will pat myself on the back for solving the mystery before it was revealed (but not until just before it was revealed) and I'd recommend it to those who enjoy slow-burn mysteries and thrillers.

April Coutts-Cliveden has everything, looks, brains, money, and Hannah Jones is lucky to be her roommate at Oxford, drawn into her orbit, an instant best friend. But April has a mean streak and sometimes her practical jokes go too far, ending in her murder at the end of their freshman year. Hannah's evidence helps convict a creepy college porter who has stalked more than one coed.

Ten years later Hannah is living in Edinburgh, married to her first love and April's ex boyfriend and pregnant. She thinks she has managed to move away from the horror of the past until she learns that the porter had died in jail, still protesting his innocence and a conversation with a reporter reveals new evidence. Hannah begins to wonder how well she really knew April and the other members of their circle and what really happened that night.

The plot twists and turns as Hannah pokes around and discovers many possible motives, leading to a suspenseful, surprise ending. Too much pregnancy introspection and detail slow down the middle of the book but the plot kept me turning the pages.

It was Hannah’s testimony that sent a college porter to prison for her college roommate April’s murder. Now 10 years later, he’s dead but protested his innocence till the end. When a podcaster gives Hannah some new information about April’s death, she starts questioning her own testimony and eventually suspects old friends Emily, Hugh, Remi, and even her husband Will.

Told in alternating before and after chapters, Ware’s latest will keep you guessing till the end.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I'm a big Ruth Ware fan and much like previous books, this one did not disappoint! I rounded up to five stars, but it was probably closer to 4.5-4.75 for me because it did drag just a bit towards the end. Overall, it was a compelling read and I couldn't put it down. I love an academia setting, especially Oxford, so I enjoyed that aspect of the book. I also really liked that the chapters alternated between "before" and "after" for most of the book - that's probably one of my favorite structures for mystery/thrillers books, and it worked well for this story. I had some ideas on how I thought the book would end, some that were correct and some that weren't, so I don't know that I'd say the ending was completely shocking, but I liked seeing how everything played out. I really enjoyed the book overall and would definitely recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery/Scout Press for the opportunity to read and review this arc!

It was… fine? Kinda boring, and not really hooking me. The rapid switch between POVs, which worked so well for me in One By One, really killed all forward momentum in The It Girl. The After sets the hook, but the Before needs to give us all the details; in the quest to keep chapters short, the After just ends up being a blandly repetitive interruption of the development in the Before. But Before Hannah gives off vintage 2010 “not like other girls” vibes and After Hannah is the bog standard “domestic suspense housewife” (at least she can’t drink because she’s pregnant?)

Then at 16% we had a totally unnecessary throwaway HP reference. Like, it’s 2022 - can we please finally throw away the nods to books by transphobic trash? That was the end for me; only momentum kept me going the extra 9%.

Sorry, Ruth, but The It Girl ain’t it for me.

I was about half way through The It Girl by Ruth Ware when my dad called and asked me what I was up to. I told him what I was reading and went on to say, “ I keep reading her because so many people love her books and I keep hoping I’ll understand why. While they are well written and quick reads, there’s never anything really shocking. The endings are usually not her strong point, unlike many other authors who write suspense/thrillers and you can’t wait to find out what the twist is. If someone asks me what I thought of a certain title of hers I need to go back and read my review of it to even remember.”

That pretty much sums up my reading experience with The It Girl. I was hoping it would be different with this one since I really enjoy the Dark Academia genre. And while I did enjoy that aspect, once again the twist was not that exciting… although I did like that they were like, “I’m not going to tell you why I did this like the evil villain always does.” That did amuse me.

I’m sure I’ll read her next one and keep hoping she finally gives me that Wow Factor that I’m looking for.

It all starts out with a convicted man proclaiming his innocence and dying in prison. This is why Hannah is doubting her decision of testifying against him so long ago. Did he really kill her college roommate or did someone else do it?
I did not mind the plot being divided into before and after April,. Getting me to know what really happened and also where the other characters are in the future. I loved this approach because I got to know these people rather well. Still did not expect. the surprise ending.
If you want a real good mystery,this is the book for you! Thank you Ruth Ware and NetGalley for the chance to read this advanced copy.

This was by no means my favorite Ruth Ware book, but it was good and a fun read (albeit on the long side). Thanks to @netgalley and @gallerybooks for the early copy! 3.75 stars rounded up to 4.
*
Synopsis: Hannah and April are complete opposites when they're paired as roommates in Oxford, and April helps Hannah make a close group of friends. But at the end of the first year, April is dead, and Hannah is responsible for getting her killer locked up. However, a decade later, Hannah is having second thoughts about the man she accused, especially considering new secrets coming to light about April.
*
I'm not exactly sure what to think about this. I thought it was really compelling at first, and I liked the alternating timelines between now and the months leading up to April's death. I also thought the ending was really good--I didn't see it coming at all, and it plays on some typical murder mystery assumptions in a good way.
*
It did drag in the middle, and it felt like there was a lot of time spent chasing a red herring that wasn't correct because it was way too early in the book. There were a couple other plot points that I was disappointed at first at how they didn't end up mattering to the ending, but I realize a lot of that was based on other assumptions I was making.
*
There is also a lot that's pretty typical - the investigation hinged on her testimony, she was traumatized and had memory issues, new evidence showing up later - I feel like a lot of that has been done before.
*
There were a few mysteries left hanging, which I was ok with. I also really liked how the villain was like "This isn't a Bond movie, I'm not going to walk you through my motive." I hate when that happens in books haha.
*
Overall, this didn't blow me away, but it was a solid, exciting thriller with an ending that I found surprising. With some of the filler in the middle cut out, and maybe a bit more development of the early years, I think I would have loved it.

I LOVE a good dark academia thriller, and this one did not disappoint. I loved the mystery, and I didn't figure out the twists. Another solid book by Ruth Ware.

The perfect whodunnit in my eyes! And a dark academia setting to boot!!

I thought I figured it out and ended up being totally wrong. I was engaged the entire time. This is probably the fastest I’ve read a book in months!

Hannah's life is defined by its worst moment- the murder of her college roommate / best friend. Despite being haunted for many years by the events of that night, Hannah is comforted by the fact that she put away the killer. Or did she? When a podcaster begins questioning some of the pieces of the case that lingered in the back of Hannah's mind all these years, she has to learn the truth.

Unlike many of Ruth's other books, this one was definitely a slow burn. April's character was mesmerizing- complex, yet dynamic. Multiple red herrings kept me engaged throughout the 400+ pages. Must read for any Ruth Ware fan.

Hannah found her roommate, April, dead in their dorm during her first year at Oxford. She provided testimony that helped to convict a porter at Oxford, but now ten years later, she is questioning whether he actually committed the crime. Th story alternates between what happened before April's death and what happened after. The mystery was intriguing and Ruth Ware's writing is atmospheric. A compelling read.

This has been one of my most anticipated reads of the year! I love all of Ware's previous books, and this one was definitely a good read as well. \

Hannah and April, who meet while away at school and quickly become two peas in a pod, until one day when April is found murdered. After April's murder, Hannah's world is turned upside down.

Flash forward years later, Hannah is married and trying to move on with her life, trying her best to put the past behind her, and keep it that way. Then April's convicted murderer ends up dying while serving his time in prison for the crime, a devoted journalist to the case ends up finding Hannah and questioning her. The journalist is hoping to clear the convicted killers name, and to find the real person who he believes really committed the murder, with the help of Hannah. Hannah wants to keep the past in the past, but somehow, the past always has a way to come back and haunt you.

There have been a lot of great academic thrillers out there, and this one is definitely one of them. I loved the setting as well as the characters. The writing (as always with Ware) was superb, and I found myself to be completely immersed in the world within this book. The book was just the right pace, with just the right amount of suspense and tension to keep my interest. I enjoyed how the book weaved from the present to the past. There were a lot of people within the friend group, and characters close to the group of friends that I suspected, but turns out I was wrong. This is one of those books where you think you know the "who dun it" only to be wrong and have to check that person off of your list and move on to the next suspect.

The only negative thing I can say about this one is that the ending was pretty predictable and that the book was drawn out and could have been shortened a lot. Overall, it was a fun read! If you are a fan of IN MY DREAMS I HOLD A KNIFE by Ashley Winstead then I think you will enjoy this one!

The It Girl by Ruth Ware
#fortyfirstbookof2022 #arc

CW: Murder, assault, death, guns, mean practical jokes, pregnancy injury

Like many thriller lovers, I’ve read all of Ruth Ware’s books. After finishing The It Girl, I’m placing this one pretty high in the ranking of her novels.

I am a sucker for a dual timeline structure wherein the main character is remembering a previous time trying to make sense of it all and trying to solve a mystery that she may have gotten wrong the first time. I did not see the ending coming, but after finishing I was able to think back to hints that were laid out that, if I were paying attention, might have led me to suspect what happened. But I’m glad I wasn’t able to guess. I would much rather be surprised by an ending that makes sense upon later refection.

Either way, I really enjoyed this book. It was suspenseful, and kept me guessing. I didn’t dislike any of the characters—usually there’s at least one that I don’t care for, although I guess it might have been the titular It Girl. I’m not convinced we were supposed to like her at all, but I did get the idea of her charisma and appeal that drew the others to her orbit.

This is a solid addition to Ruth Ware’s catalog and absolutely worth the read.

Thank you to @netgalley and @gallerybooks for the advanced copy. (Pub date 07/12/22)

This book is more of a 3.5. I went back and forth debating on if I thought enough had been done to round up to a four but in the end, it didn't feel authentic to give it that.

I don't normally enjoy a dual-time novel, but this one didn't bother me too much. I really enjoyed a lot of the BEFORE sections, as we got to learn about the characters through those flashbacks. I felt that they were all pretty well established, but you can definitely tell Ware took time to shape April, our main It Girl. She felt the most fleshed out to me, especially when a lot of her personality was established through her actions and the way she treated the others.

Hannah is our lead protagonist and the story is told entirely through her eyes. She was an alright character. She made some choices that I shook my head at, because they didn't seem honest to who she was.

HOWEVER, while a whodunnit mystery, this is really a book about how to move on from the past when it won't let you. When your choices altered the paths of so many others. And if the thing you always believed to be the truth was suddenly questioned, how it reshapes your reality and in essence, you. This is the journey we see Hannah take. So while I questioned a lot of her choices, I also understood them in that concept.

"The It Girl" also gives an honest look at how we as a society are obsessed with true crime, and especially this idea of seeing perfect, beautiful people stripped down to nothing. It was a pretty easy read, nothing was overly complicated, and the mystery of it all is resolved well-enough at the end.

I don't know if this was the right Ruth Ware book to begin with, having never read anything by the author before, but I think it was an enjoyable enough novel that I will definitely read some of her other works.

This is a fun, quick psychological thriller about a college murder and the eye witness testimony that put the killer away. But, after the convicted man dies in prison, having always claimed his innocence, some details start to emerge that could overturn his conviction. Who can be trusted?

Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the eARC.

Hannah first meets April as she is moving into their shared dorm room at Oxford University. April is outgoing, assertive, and pushes Hannah outside her box - she is the college's "It Girl". They have a fast friendship and are quickly in a small group of friends. But by the end of their Freshman year, April is dead.

Jumping between the past and the present, we slowly learn about what exactly occurred 10 years ago. The suspense was killing me, and I was thoroughly surprised at the end. Loved it.

Just Finished The It Girl and Ruth Ware has done it again....

The Story is told by Hannah, whose best friend, April (the "It Girl") was murdered while they were students at Oxford. Hannah was the one who found April's body, and also witnessed the creepy porter John Neville, leaving the scene right before she found her.

The story bops back and forth between present day and before, where you are able to see a ton of backstory between April, Hannah and their friend group leading up to the day that continues to haunt them an entire decade later.

Hannah ends up marrying April's boyfriend from those days, Will, and they are living a peaceful life, preparing to have their first child, when Hannah's world comes to a halt when once John Neville, who always claimed innocence, dies before he could try for another appeal. From there, a reporter reaches out to Hannah to discuss some disparities of the case that lead Hannah down a wild goose chase for the truth about what happened that dark night many. many years ago.

I have to say, the backstory on this one dragged on a little bit more than I think it had to, but also.... the twists and turns had me guessing and re-guessing where this was going and how it would end up. Although I had a few scenarios in my mind about what could have happened, how it actually ended was not even on my radar. Brilliant! Highly recommend!

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Press for the ARC.

Our story is in the present and the past. Hannah in the present is pregnant while the story picks up in the past as Hannah is starting at Pelham College at the prestigious Oxford University.
In the present, Hannah is expecting a baby, and living with her husband. They are both connected to a crushing death from her past. She found her suite mate’s body and was the witness that helped put away the murderer. Her husband Will also happened to be April’s boyfriend. The death of the murderer in jail sets Hannah on a path that forever changes her life. The doubts she has carried about what she saw and the pain from the loss are still ever present in her life! Did she help them convict an innocent man? The questions she starts to ask will shake her relationships and her send her on a path that could lead in heartbreak!
I don’t always love when stories are taking place in the past and present, but Ruth Ware is a master storyteller. She builds an amazing mystery from the first page! You will be in a frenzy to keep reading until the past and present come together for an ending you won’t see coming! Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of this amazing book!

After reading several mediocre and highly disappointing books in a row, I picked up The It Girl by Ruth Ware, who is an auto-buy author for me and one of my favorites, expecting it to wow me; after all, I've been anticipating this book ever since I knew it was coming out. Thank God she didn't let me down! I LOVED this book--5 stars all the way!

Ware immediately drew me in from the first chapter where we meet Hannah Jones, whose POV the novel is based, and her roommate at Oxford, April Clarke-Cliveden. April is the epitome of an It girl with her beauty, confidence, poise, style, sex appeal, and charisma. Everyone wants to either be like April or be with her: that is except for the person who strangled her one night. Hannah is the one who found April's body and it is Hannah's testimony that sent John Neville, a porter at Oxford, to prison. Yet a decade later, Hannah is still haunted by April's murder and when Neville dies in prison still protesting his innocence, she becomes even more haunted by the thoughts that she might have caused an innocent man to die in prison--and that April's killer is still free.

Ware tells the story in two parts, Before and After. Before takes place at Oxford and you get to see the friendship dynamics between April, Hannah, Will (now Hannah's husband and father of their unborn child but back then, April's boyfriend), Ryan, Emily, and Hugh. After is present-day when Hannah is married to Will, pregnant, and trying to determine if she was right 10 years ago with what she saw the night April died.

The novel is less a thriller than some of Ware's other novels and more of a suspenseful mystery, if you will. That's not to say that it's not without its moments--it's full of tension and there's a looming sense of danger the more Hannah looks into April's death and begins to remember that night. I loved the dark academia atmosphere and how sinister and foreboding she made Oxford at times.

I did guess the reveal but thought for sure I would be wrong then was thrilled I had been right (yay me!) but I loved how Ware put it all together. It was so clever and brilliantly done and masterful writing from start to finish! I loved this one so much that I just pre-ordered a hardback copy to display on my shelf with her other books (as I read a digital ARC). Make sure to grab a copy when it comes out on July 12th!

Thank you, NetGalley and Gallery/Scout Press for providing me with an ARC copy to read in exchange for my fair and honest review.

-review posted to Goodreads and Twitter on 6/28/22 and posted on Amazon and B&N at publication