The It Girl by Ruth Ware is a fast-paced psychological thriller with twists and turns you won’t see coming. After reading a few reviews for this book I was interested in reading this book. I’m so pleased I decided to read it. Now I must have a look at this author's backlist and read her other books.

I enjoyed this book and have no hesitation in recommending it. With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my digital copy to read and review.

Great crime/thriller novel which sets a good pace. I like the chapters alternating from the past to the present.

Unfortunately, this story was just an ok read for me personally. I found the first half slow going and the story a bit predictable. It was more of a question of which one will it be. The story really picked up in the last part which was pretty thrilling and I wish there were more of those chapters throughout the book.

Thank you to @netgalley and @simonschusterau for the eARC.

This was my first Ruth aware book and it certainly won’t be my last. In The It Girl, we have a dual timeline story where we meet Hannah Jones - ‘before’, starting university, and ‘after’, a decade later.

Hannah meets April, a wealthy student from a life far removed from hers. They share a room and become fast friends. They soon quickly form a friendship group with a few others. However, by the end of the second term of uni, April is dead. A decade later, suspicions arise that the man jailed for the murder was not responsible, and sends Hannah on a journey to remember what happened that fateful night.

I loved this book. It was full of twists and turns and I kept changing my guess about what happened and who the murderer was. I had my suspicions closer to the end which turned out to be correct, but there were many red herrings so I kept changing my mind! A definite recommendation for thriller fans.

Thanks to @netgalley and @simonschusterau for the review copy.

As usual, Ruth Ware has such an addictive way of telling a story, I love how quickly you fall into her writing. Clever twists and intrigue-galore.

This was my first Ruth Ware book but I really didn’t like this book. I think it’s a book you are either going to love or hate.

I enjoyed the amateur detective work by Hannah Jones, investigating what happened to her friend April all those years ago.

“That It Girl? Oh, she’s thick as two short planks—she wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for her dad’s money.” - I love this quote.

I didn’t guess the plot so I was happy with that but I felt this book was too much of a slow burn for me. I don’t mind a slow burn book but I felt there was nothing happening until the very last pages.

Thank you to @netgalley and @simonschusterau for the digital copy of The It Girl for reviewing purposes.

Ruth Ware is really cementing her place on my favourite thriller authors list! Although quite different to others I’ve read in this author’s backlist, this one still really impressed me. While it was a bit of a slow burn, the atmospheric writing and palpable tension kept me engaged, not to mention that ending.. did not see it coming! An original and fresh twist on the standard whodunnit!

I did think it was a bit too long; Hannah’s inner dialogue started to became quite repetitive and as a result I lost interested at some points. Other than that minor critique though, I really enjoyed this one and would definitely recommend it, especially if you like thrillers with dark academia vibes!

One of my most anticipated thriller of the year! I have loved all Ruth Ware books, and this one was no exception.

April was an IT girl and Hannah’s roommate. Hannah found her dead body ten years ago, and it changed her life forever. She testified against the murderer who went to prison, but he insisted that he wasn’t the killer. Had Hannah sent an innocent person to jail?

I loved the Oxford setting and the details described in the book. I appreciated that they weren’t just info dump; they were functional as I could picture the settings vividly in my mind - the gate, the door, the room and the bedrooms.

While I was a bit disappointed that Instagram didn’t make a more prominent involvement in the story, April Clarke-Cliveden was an IT girl indeed (with a name like that, she had no chance). In the beginning, I was more attracted to the ‘After’ chapters because I didn’t have too much interest in the student interactions in the ‘Before’ chapters. But I understood they were important to establish the relationships between the characters so we’d feel the impact of April’s death to everyone around her and why they would still react strongly to it many years later.

Around the 40% mark, I was hooked. The plot was amazing, the characters were greatly developed, the writing was so tight. I suspected everyone, just like Ruth Ware wanted, and I was still surprised by the reveal. The conclusion was great.

I loved this and I couldn’t stop thinking about it after I read the final page. Ruth Ware has done it again!

Considering the title, The It Girl has very little to do with April. Of course, it's all about solving her murder, but we only get a very narrow glimpse into her life. There are no earth-shattering secrets or hidden truths - April seems to be exactly as she appears, leaving the narrative feeling shallow.

I know this is supposed to be twisty and full of dark academia vibes, but it's primarily spoiled rich kids and lacklustre red herrings. Everyone is supposed to be a suspect when really, Ware focuses on the scholarship kids, the staff, and anyone without money. Because they worked so hard to get there and have the most to lose, they must have... committed murder? Yeah, the second you stop to think about it, nothing makes sense, and the whole thing falls apart.

There are a few good moments, but overall I found The It Girl to be pretty average.

A group of students from different backgrounds come together at Oxford and a friendship group is formed with April, the IT Girl, at the centre. April comes from a privileged background, something that she takes for granted. She directs the groups activities and loves nothing more to push her friends boundaries and prank them. April is murdered and her roommate, Hannah gives evidence against one of the College staff. The story jumps between past and present as Hannah gives us the history leading up to the murder and how she is questioning herself about that night. Hannah is questioning everything, and you will too! A real ‘who done it’ which culminates in a hectic climax. Thanks to Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review. #netgalley #simon&schuster #ruthware

Thanks to #netgalley for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. Omg what a fantastic read! It had everything I want in a thriller, likeable characters, a building feeling of suspense throughout, twists, dual timelines and a well developed plot. I was hooked from the start and couldn't read it fast enough to discover just who had killed April and if Hannah had really helped send the wrong man to jail. This book literally became unputdownable towards the end, I am pretty sure I stopped breathing for a few pages there. Another addictive read from Ruth Ware. It was perfect in every way. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ #ruthware #theitgirl #netgalley #litsy #thestorygraph #amazonaustralia #amazonkindle #tea_sipping_bookworm #bookqueen #bookstagram #thriller

This is a very well crafted book, it started out as a slow burn but after the first few chapters I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Ruth Ware writes a intriguing and compelling thriller. I didn't really like or feel for any of the characters but nevertheless it is still a fantastic storyline. Thank you netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

My rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5

Everyone wanted her life
Someone wanted her dead

It was Hannah who found April’s body ten years ago.
It was Hannah who didn’t question what she saw that day.
Did her testimony put an innocent man in prison?

She needs to know the truth.

Even if it means questioning her own friends.
Even if it means putting her own life at risk.

Because if the killer wasn’t a stranger, it's someone she knows…

#netgalley #theitgirl

Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book for an honest review.

I think this is it for me with the author.
I enjoyed her early work but they seem to have gone downhill from there. Just bored!

Everyone wanted her life. Someone wanted her dead.

Introducing Hannah – Her friend April was found murdered in the room they shared at Oxford University. Now a decade later Hannah thinks she has sent the wrong person away for the murder of her friend. Former Porter John Neville has died in prison and has Hannah going back to that night she will never forget especially when a journalist tells her they have new theory that points to John Neville being innocent. Everyone had a motive for April’s death. April loved playing games with her group of friends - Hannah who is heavily pregnant and married to Will who was April’s college sweetheart and then we have Hugh, Emily and Ryan. Hannah wants to get to the bottom of what happened that night even though her blood pressure has skyrocketed. Who killed April and why?

The book is told in Hannah’s perspective both then and now. We get an insight of the university days and why April was called the “It Girl”. I enjoyed this Psychological thriller and I am sad to say that this is my first Ruth Ware book – This definitely won’t be my last. I found this book fast paced and quite enjoyable.

Thank you Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Loved this story. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough as Hannah’s magical world at Oxford unfolded.
As Hannah's world came crashing down around her at the death of her best friend, the reader was plunged into the uncertainty of whether Hannah got the details of that night wrong, sending an innocent man to jail to spend the rest of his days wrongfully accused.

As Hannah explores the possibilities of what really happened that night, it feels like everyone could have felt they had a reason to murder April, but the final twist came with a bang as it was revealed who might have acted on it, and whether they'll kill again.

Ruth Ware’s The It Girl is a well-written, action packed dive into dark academia. The characters are complex and the plot twists surprising, but credible. Highly recommended. Thanks to Ruth Ware, NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC.

This is my first Ruth aware and definitely not the last one. The It Girl kept me hooked to it and I enjoyed this one thoroughly.

With narration moving from past to present, we are introduced to the two main female protagonists, Hannah and April. Roommates at Oxford, coming from entirely different family backgrounds, the two girls enjoy the life at Oxford. April is the It Girl. She has everything that anyone and everyone wants.

It Girl made me fall in love with different characters but mostly, I loved the depiction of Oxford and I really really felt like I’m missing out on not having visited the gorgeous place.

This was a slow burn but still had its cliffhangers and twists that made me gasp. It was intense and well-written. It’s a brilliant mystery worth falling in love with.

Ruth Ware is one of my favourite authors, so I was really excited to read this book and it did not disappoint. The story goes between past and present timelines and I really enjoyed how the story unfolded and kept you guessing. Hannah becomes friends with April when they meet at Oxford but then April is found murdered. Hannah helps with convicting one of the Oxford porter’s John Neville with the crime, however years later she finds out he has died in Prison. Then Hannah is contacted by a journalist who feels there are some loose ends that do not add up, which has Hannah wondering if she helped convict the wrong person. I found Hannah’s character really interesting and enjoyed when she would delve into what happened at Oxford and how all the characters are connected. The book was a slower-paced thriller but it held my attention throughout. I loved the twists and turns of this book and I think if you are a fan of Ruth Ware or enjoy twisted thrillers you will love this one.

Thanks to Simon & Schuster Australia, Netgalley and the author for an ARC of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I can completely understand why there has been so much anticipation and buzz about this book. This is a well-crafted, completely original thriller. I won't give too much away because it really has to be experienced page by page but I will say that the characterisations are spot on and the way that the story twists and turns made me gasp aloud (to the consternation of my pets and children).

I highly recommend you buy this book if you are a fan of academic mystery thrillers - it's the very clever sorts you have to look out for ;-)

If you’ve followed me for a while you’ll know that I’m a huge Ruth Ware fan. She is one of my auto-buy authors, so I was extremely excited when I received a copy of her new book, The It Girl, to review!

Synopsis: When wealthy, beautiful and intelligent April is found murdered in her university college room, Hannah’s life is changed forever. Not only has she lost her best friend, but she is a key witness in the murder trial and must live with April and the trial haunting her as she moves into adulthood. When her testimony is called into question years later, Hannah must pick apart what she thought she new about her past to discover the truth.

I found The It Girl quite a different read from Ruth Ware’s other books. It’s a bit more of a slow burn, offering a shift away from her usual plot-driven thrillers to more of a character-led piece. I enjoyed getting to know the backgrounds of her characters more deeply than in some of her previous work. The chapters alternate between present day (or “after”) and before April was murdered (or “before”), so if you enjoy alternating timelines as the story unfolds then this will work for you.

It’s a compelling portrayal of how we must live with the consequences of the decisions we make. It dives into the importance of trust and friendship when relationships are tested and discovering the truth at all costs. I loved the academic setting and the staging across Oxford and Edinburgh.

The It Girl is a gripping new story from our queen of the page-turner, Ruth Ware!