This was a rollercoaster. I liked it, I hated it, I liked it, I hated it, and now I'm just kind of...meh about it. The writing was fine, but the characters are unlikable and the rich person furnishings did not need so much time on the page (can we not talk about the spa anymore?). The women were made out to be greedy and naive and I just feel so unsatisfied.

Well if you’re looking for a book that you just don’t want to put down this is a book for you.
A book filled with so many twist and turns you almost get whiplash reading it. One woman goes from owning her own restaurant and then suddenly loosing everything and living out of your car. Another living a grand lifestyle. But being in a submissive relationship where you can’t do anything for yourself. Now these two women don’t sound like the most likely of friends. But fate intervened and each fights to change their lifestyle regardless of the consequences.
A quick and easy read for someone who just wants to cleanse their reading palette. But one that will keep you wanting more.

This book is a solid thriller. Starts off very slow but quickly picks up. It was a very different kind of story and I enjoyed every bit of it. I enjoyed the ending a lot. I will be reading more from this author! Thank you.

Harding is one of the best, if not the best domestic thriller writers out there. Her writing is engaging, fast paced and just plain good. This one focuses on Lee, a woman who becomes homeless during the pandemic and befriends a wealthy woman (the drowning woman) who gets her into a world of trouble.

Homeless Woman Saves Wealthy Wife

The Drowning Woman by Robyn Harding is a psychological thriller that intertwines the lives of two women from vastly different backgrounds. Lee Gulliver, a once-successful restaurateur, finds herself homeless and living in her car after her business collapses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While struggling to survive, Lee encounters Hazel Laval, a wealthy society wife, in a dire situation—seemingly attempting to drown herself. Hazel reveals that she is trapped in an abusive marriage with her husband, Benjamin, a powerful criminal defence lawyer. This chance encounter sets off a series of events that bind the two women together in a dangerous plot.

The Drowning Woman is a gripping thriller that excels in both character development and narrative tension. Its exploration of serious themes such as abuse and homelessness adds a layer of social commentary to the suspenseful plot. While some readers might find the twists predictable, the overall execution and emotional depth make it a standout in the genre. Harding's deft storytelling ensures that this novel is both a thought-provoking and an entertaining read.

For those who enjoy psychological thrillers with complex characters and intricate plots, The Drowning Woman is highly recommended.

If your looking for a psychological thriller that will have your on a rollercoaster from start to finish then I highly recommend Robyn's books. This one was no exception. I was hooked from page one and had a hard time to put it down. The ending was a shocker for me. Robyn is an automatic buy author for me.

DNF at part 2 (50ish percent)

I am definitely in the minority with this novel because I really just didn't love it. I was intrigued in the beginning, but then I got to the twist at the end of part 1 going into part 2, and immediately sighed because I realized we were in a thriller plot I feel is too common and tired. I'm bummed because the beginning was SO good and then I read further and I was just bored and felt like I couldn't be bothered to read anything else. Also, I don't mind suspending my beliefs, but portions of this book were just SO unrealistic even I had to be like uhhhh.

Regardless, thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Loved this twisty book. So many fun elements that kept me on my toes. No wonder this book has gotten popular! Recommend!!

I will admit I was all in at the beginning of the book but by the middle I had lost interest. It just fell short for me. It had the makings of a great twisty thriller but I couldn’t connect fully with the characters.
I do believe that this will definitely hit the mark for a lot of readers though, check out the reviews and decide for yourself.

This book was just ok for me. I liked the beginning. I thought Lee being on the runa and saving Hazel was an interesting start. However, the story became very unbelievable the more I read.

This book is hands down one of my faves! I loved this one and cannot recommend it enough. With so many twists that I did not see coming, I highly recommend this one!

Robyn Harding's "The Drowning Woman" is a suspenseful ride that will keep you guessing until the very end. The story follows two complex women, Lee, a down-on-her-luck former restaurateur living in her car, and Hazel, a seemingly wealthy woman with a dark secret. When their paths collide, an unlikely friendship forms, fueled by desperation and a shared desire for escape.

Harding excels at crafting a twisty plot with clever reveals. The suspense builds steadily, making it hard to put the book down. The exploration of the characters' psyches, particularly Lee's resilience in the face of hardship, adds depth to the narrative.

However, the book isn't without flaws. The ending, while surprising, might feel a tad rushed for some readers. Additionally, a few plot elements could have benefited from further development.

Overall, "The Drowning Woman" is a solid 4-star read. Fans of fast-paced domestic thrillers with strong female leads will find themselves engrossed in this story. If you're looking for a book with a twist that will stay with you long after you finish the last page, then this is definitely worth checking out. However, those seeking a more nuanced exploration of character motivations or a watertight plot might want to manage their expectations slightly.

Really enjoyed the suspense of this story and the plot twists were definitely unexpected. The POV of the main characters were a great idea to understand the reasoning to why they did what they had to do.

Immediately after starting this, I was so turned off due to the presence of COVID 19 and all the trauma that comes with it. Plus this is not the type of thriller that gets me going. Too much going on. I'm bummed this was a miss for me

This was a great read and will definitely recommend!! The cover is also so cute. Can’t wait to read more by this author.

Robyn Harding is one of the few authors who are "auto-purchases" for me. As soon as her book is out, I buy a copy to keep on my shelf, even if I request it through NetGalley. This was a very twisty, winding read that grabbed me from page one. Just when Lee thinks she has hit absolute rock bottom - living out of her car on the streets - she saves a woman who is also struggling. The two women develop a relationship that seems initially mutually beneficial - a rich woman helping someone who is suffering from abject poverty - but then the relationship quickly becomes much more complex. I don't want to reveal much else here, but I thoroughly enjoyed this psychological thriller!

Wow! This was so unexpected. We chose this as a book club read and we all ended up loving it (which barely happens!). The twists and surprising plot twists kept us on our toes. The switches that were so unexpected gave us so much to discuss and theorize about. This is a great, twisty read and I highly recommend it for future book club discussions.

Lee Gulliver never thought she would be homeless. She never thought she would be running from her past and never thought she would be living out of her car. But she is and she has no idea how to get out of this mess. She is now on the west coast and keeping a low profile. She has to move around most nights to be safe and to stay out of trouble. At her newest location, she settles in and looks out towards the ocean. She can’t believe her eyes, when she sees a woman drowning. She doesn’t think twice and runs toward the water and saves her. The drowning woman Hazel isn’t very happy to be saved. She is running from her own life and now she doesn’t know what to do. Needless to say the two start to bond, the most unlikely pair. Hazel is married and very wealthy and Lee is barely making it living in her car. Both woman try to help each other with their problem’s. But do they both have each other’s best interest at heart? Their lives intertwining is an absolute mess. There are so many twists and turns, I really didn’t know what was going to happen. This was the perfect kind of thriller for me. Fast paced, good plot, and keeping me guessing is what I like. Over all this was a four star read for me. I want to thank Netgalley and Robyn Harding for my copy of The Drowning Woman, for an honest review. It was my pleasure to read and review this book.

Yay Robin Harding is back! I absolutely love her books she is a drop everything author for me and she def came through with this one. Lots of twists and an amazing thriller I'll be sure to recommend to my reader friends!

4.5 rounded up to 5.

Thank you to the publisher for my copy!

Best book I've read in 2023! I loved this book, and couldn't put it down and then I was sad when it was over, because I wanted to read more. I didn't want the book to end. I loved it!!! Love Robyn Harding and all her books.