I have read every single Ruth Ware book and they get better and better. Ruth Ware has an amazing ability to build up tension and suspense until you are on the edge of your seat. I thought I had this figured out and I was so wrong. I will read everything Ruth ware comes out with and I’d love to hear her speak in Person 1 day.

A passable thriller, very readable. I guessed at the killer’s identity but not the how or why of it. Would recommend!

If I had to sum up Ruth Ware's latest work The It Girl in one word, it would be meh.
Truthfully it felt very generic, been there, done that. The characters weren't particularly likeable or intriguing and the pacing was a little slow.
If dark academia, psychological thrillers are something you only reach for occasionally, and Ruth Ware is an author you generally enjoy, you may like this book better than someone for whom this is a go-to genre.
Overall this was just a middle of the road book to me... the kind of book you pick up at an airport kiosk for a long flight maybe, and then don't feel bad for leaving it behind at your destination.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy. The views expressed are entirely my own.

Hannah begins her first year at Oxford with a roommate who is her total opposite. April is the "it" girl that knows everyone and has everything. April brings Hannah on her adventures and opens her eyes to the fun of life. Then the worst happens and Hannah finds April dead in their room. One person is convicted but, after a reporter comes to her with questions, Hannah feels like the police missed something.

This is only the second Ruth Ware book I have read, but I enjoy her writing tremendously. The plot kept me on the edge of my seat and had me continually guessing "who dun it" until the very end. There was a point that I felt like I was losing focus and just wanted to know what was going to happen, but then the pace picked up again. I was convinced I knew what was going to happen and then she shocked me. If you are a fan of mystery/suspense, this is for you!

I love Ruth Ware books. The beginning on this one seemed a bit slow but once it got going, there were so many twists and turns. Highly recommended.

This was a good read!!! The gripping story, the mystery, the huge pool of suspects! The possibilities we're endless. I spent the majority of the book thinking I knew who did it until the plot twist in the end that took my by complete surprise! I did think it was a bit longer than it needed to be and my copy had a few grammar errors. Some inserted words that weren't supposed to be there. Also, it being written in British English made it a bit harder to understand some of the slang at times. But all in all, a great triller!!

Whew! After the last book I read by Ruth Ware, The Woman in Cabin 10, I was afraid my admiration of her was over. This book, The It Girl, has definitely brought me back into the Ware fan club. Tightly woven, likable as well as unlikable characters, on-point backdrop and intense climactic events all made for a top level reading experience. Exactly how I want to kick off my summer of thrillers. With a before/after time travel trope in place, the reader is given access to all of the information. If I were one who tries to "figure out" the plot (which I am not) all the information is given to you. Everything is there... which is really fun to realize as you turn the final digital page... thank you Gallery/Scout Press/ Netgalley for the ARC of this. I now highly anticipate Ruth's (we're on a first name basis after so many books) next novel!

I read The It Girl, by Ruth Ware, on a flight recently. Thanks to @gallerybooks for my gifted copy!

I’ve read a few great thrillers recently, so my expectations were high for this book. However, The It Girl ultimately fell short. It had such great potential (reminding me of In My Dream I Hold a Knife with the elite college setting and close group of friends), but it was very predictable, and didn’t hold my attention well on this flight.

A bit longer than needed but a good thriller. The quest for the truth on who murdered the campus it girl has the stereotypes of college life. Ware is a master at the twist and she doesn't disappoint in this narrative. Some hokey moments, but there is an explanation that suits the storyline in most cases. Easy to sympathize with the main character and sleuth. A good beach read with a little drag in places.

Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley

An academic thriller that will engross you in no time!

The book is based at Oxford University where you will follow Hannah, her new friend April and their close knit group of friends, Will, Hugh, Ryan and Emily. April is the life of the party, the “it girl” and Hannah quickly finds herself in her orbit. The party comes to an end when April is found dead. Fast forward to ten years later and Hannah still lives with the horror of April’s death. She is married to Will and they are expecting their first child when the convicted killer, former Oxford porter John Neville, dies in prison. After meeting with a journalist April begins questioning if the porter was the actual killer and if not is it someone close to her.

While the book is plot driven the character development was excellent. If you are looking for a solid thriller, The It Girl, is it! This well written, gripping novel is perfect for your summer reading list (available 7/12/22).

Thank you to @netgalley and @scoutpressbooks for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Hannah and April, who are complete opposites, become fast friends after learning they will be sharing a suite at Oxford. They quickly become friends with Emily, Hugh, Ryan and Will, as they spend most of their nights partying together. By the end of their first year, April-the It Girl-will be found murdered and Hannah will the one to put a possibly innocent man behind bars.
The chapters alternate between the ‘before’ and ‘after’ and are both told from Hannah’s perspective. I loved the how the Oxford setting added a bit more creepiness to the overall mystery and how the author was able to make me suspicious of every character at some point. This was long-more than 400 pages-but it read quickly and I thought the ending was good, yet not surprising. Releases July 12, 2022.

Unfortunately, I have been unable to get into Ware's recent books. This one definitely intrigued me as I am always a fan of the academic setting and the non linear timeline. But I only made it to about 35% before calling it quits. I just could not stick with it and had no drive to pick it up.

Ruth Ware the Queen of psychological thrillers does it again with another can't put down "who dunit" book. Although this book was very good, it did seem to be a little too long and dragged on in some chapters - but otherwise another great book.

I’ll be honest… Ruth Ware is hit or miss for me but this one hit home! It’s officially my new favorite from her and I’m so pleased with how her storytelling has grown. The plot has many elements I love: the untimely death of an “it” girl, dark academia, lovers brought together by tragedy, and of course a convicted killer who just maybe wasn’t guilty after all. Told during two timelines, the story covers the events leading up the murder of Hannah’s roommate as well as Hannah’s quest to uncover the truth ten years later. The pace never lagged as there were plenty of clues to unpack along the way. I was pleased to discover that my suspicions were ultimately very wrong. I won’t be forgetting this one and I highly recommend it for anyone looking for quick and mysterious summer read. A huge thank you to Gallery/Scout Press and NetGalley for providing me with an e-galley!

Thank you #NetGalley and #ScoutPress for allowing me an ARC for my honest review of Ruth Ware’s The It Girl. I am a fan of Ruth Ware and have enjoyed her other books. I was was excited to receive “IT GIRL”. This book does not disappoint. It started a little slow and end in a page turner. I liked the dual timeline. Before takes place in prestige Oxford Pelham College. Hannah is middle class and public school. Her roommate, April, is private school, rich, and has it all. The Looks, witty, high self-esteem. . .. She’s the It Girl. April introduces Hannah to her circle of friends. These chapters are spent building the characters during and prior to Oxford Pelham College. Friendships are also developing in groups and in pairs. Everything is going better than Hannah ever dreamt. She doesn’t miss home. College and her roommate have turned a new leaf for her. Then April is murdered. Hannah is the key witness. After - takes place ten years after Aprils murder and how the past has haunted the lives of her college friends. The man sent to prison for Aprils murder dies while in jail. He has fought his innocence for ten years. A journalist vowed to find the truth. . . .I thought I had the mystery figured out early in the book and stuck with my idea in middle and end. WOW!!!

Having skipped over Ware’s last book, the blurb for this one called out to me. I’m a sucker for a back and forth questionable memory mystery. I also love Oxford, so that was another plus. While I don’t think that Ruth Ware is trodding on new ground with this one, I still enjoyed it. It was a fast read with a narrator that I actually liked. While it wasn’t as fun for me as “The Death of Mrs. Westaway,” I’ll definitely be suggesting this to patrons as it was a quick, fun summer read.

This book had a slow start & I thought I had the murderer figured out by 20%— but oh was I WRONG. And by the last 20% I couldn’t put it down.

I enjoyed Ruth Ware’s writing style & duel timelines. The characters were believable & easy to picture. I actually just returned from a trip to Scotland & appreciated that I recognized many of the places referenced!

Thank you Scout Press & Net Galley for allowing me an ARC.

Ruth Ware’s one of those authors who as soon as I see she has a book coming out - I immediately add it to my wishlist to grab ASAP. She wrote the best sellers, The Woman in Cabin 10, One by One and The Lying Game. She’s had some hits, as well as some misses - but when I saw the premise for It Girl, I knew I had to grab it. This one did not miss as it follows a group of former besties in college + the aftermath of a murder mystery.

The It Girl was a good twisty read that I liked. It wasn’t my favorite Ruth Ware novel, but it’s in my top 3.

Ruth Ware NEVER disappoints! This book started off a little slow but once the duel timelines picked up, I was sucked in to the story. Ruth Ware knows how to write characters and subplots in such an exciting way that you are constantly left on your toes and guessing. I had no idea under the very end. But Ruth Ware wrapped up the book in a thrilling and satisfying way that ended with such a bang!