4.5 stars

Wow! Robyn Harder is a master of misdirection. This book had me hooked and kept me guessing to the very last page. I couldn’t put it down with its jaw-dropping plot twists. Every time I thought I had the author’s carefully placed clues figured out, I found myself backtracking. Wrong again!

The guessing game was intense – just like I like my thrillers.

I really enjoyed this one. Perfect for a summer thrill.

My thanks to @grandcentralpub and @netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book before its publication date.

I'm not sure I can muster up any other words than WOW! I couldn't put this book down. It kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I literally gasped out loud several times. If you can predict anything that is going to happen then you're probably just Robyn Harding herself.

Thank you Netgalley, one of my favorite authors Robyn Harding and Grand Central Publishing for granting me an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I absolutely love Robyn Harding’s books, and this is just another to add to the list.

Due to the pandemic, Lee Gulliver finds herself homeless and living out of her car. She parks in secluded areas at night and sleeps with a knife on her lap. She ends up in Seattle, parked by a beach one night when she’s woken by a random stranger sobbing, then she throws herself into the ocean. Lee runs to her rescue quick to find out that this random stranger, Hazel, wanted to end her life due to a toxic, controlling relationship. Thinking that both women can help each other, their plans might not run as smoothly as they thought. And not everyone you meet is exactly who they say they are.

This book had some twists and some parts that left you hanging with suspense. I really loved that this book went in a direction I wasn’t expecting.

I already can’t wait for Harding’s next book 😂


Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for a DRC. The Drowning Woman is available June 13.

(Run, don’t walk, to get yourself a copy)

Harding is BACK!!! I completely binged this deliciously twisted read in 24 hours. Her last couple of books have been just okay for me but this is much closer to the dark and twisted Arrangement (which I loved). I was fully satisfied when I turned the last page. I’ll definitely be recommending to suspense fans. A great summer binge read.

Robyn Harding does it again with a great twisted psychological thrilller!! This is coming out just in time to add to your beach read list. All of Harding’s books are worth reading.

The Drowning Woman leans on the dramatic side but is still somewhat compelling despite its flaws.

Lee Gulliver is newly homeless and never could have predicted it. She owned a successful restaurant until Covid hit. Now, she’s working at a diner under the table while living in her car. One morning, she hears a woman sobbing near the ocean and saves her when she tries to drown herself. Initially, the woman Hazel is furious at being saved, but the two quickly become friends. Soon, Lee is drawn into the secrets of Hazel’s life and agrees to help her.

This thriller is fast-paced and offers twist after twist - not all of them are good. There are several unlikely scenarios, and the plot becomes super OTT, even for me.

I much preferred reading Lee’s pov over the second one. There was really no need for it, in my opinion, because it rehashes many of the same events and conversations. Surely, Lee could have deduced what was really going on herself.

As for Lee’s character, I thought she was too trusting and naive for someone with her type of experience.

Even though this story was pretty wild, it still compelled me to keep reading, so it has that going for it. It’s getting plenty of rave reviews from other early reviewers, so don’t let mine deter you from trying it out for yourself.

2.5 rounded down.

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for providing an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

https://booksandwheels.com

There is not a single bad thing I can say about this expect could it be longer.
I loved this and Robyn Harding is the queen of suspense. Fast paced, page turning.
-

💧 BOOK / REVIEW 👩

Oh @rhardingwriter - this book was deliciously wicked and OH.SO.TWISTY! I am truly floored by your writing and it's been far too long since I have picked up one of your books. Thank you @thrillerbookloverspromotions for having me on tour - this was an #ARC I could not get a hold of, so I am really grateful for the #partnership.

First and foremost...this book is NOT as it seems - and I mean that in the best way possible. My jaw literally dropped in multiple scenes and Robyn could have written this plot in so many different directions. This would make a really fun "choose your own adventure" style book, but I love the way she executed this.

Also can we talk about the girl power ending?! It was just such a good outcome (and one that I wasn't expecting.) This is a fast paced, highly entertaining read. I absolutely recommend. This publishes June 13th by @grandcentralpub.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Harding brilliantly incorporates multiple narrators and reveals twist upon twist in this very exciting page-turner. Nothing is as it first seems. A satisfying ending is the icing on the cake. This is one of the best books I've read all year.

I love this suspense thriller by Robyn Harding! If you’ve read my previous reviews, I love a story where it keeps me thinking and sometimes confused with what is going on haha! I like the fact that the 2 POVs make it seem so believable that it’s hard to doubt their reliability. It was exciting for me reading it as I had no idea where the story is heading towards; you’d think you got it all figured out then you second guess your theory. Towards the end I was still at a loss (in a good way, I promise!), who’s conspiring with whom and against whom. The twists are all spread out, it was fun that I did not see each revelation coming.

The Drowning Woman releases on June 13th. Do yourselves a favor and grab a copy! :)

Thank you Netgalley, author Robyn Harding and Grand Central Publishing for granting me an eARC in exchange of an honest opinion.

The Drowning Woman by Robyn Harding starts with a bang and doesn’t slow down until the very last word. I was captivated by Lee’s story and how hard she fought when she was at her very worst. I was equally engaged with Hazel’s POV and couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen next. The dual POV’s really made this story stand out.

"Drowning Woman" by Robyn Harding is a stunning psychological thriller that delves deep into the dark recesses of the human psyche. The novel follows the story of a successful artist who becomes entangled in a web of lies and deceit when she begins a torrid affair with a wealthy married man. As the plot unfolds, the tension and suspense build to a fever pitch, culminating in a shocking twist that will leave readers reeling.

Harding's writing is masterful, with a keen eye for detail and a knack for creating complex, multidimensional characters. Her ability to weave together a complex and engaging plot that keeps readers guessing until the very end is truly remarkable. The themes of love, obsession, and betrayal are explored with nuance and sensitivity, making "Drowning Woman" a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant read.

Overall, "Drowning Woman" is a gripping and engaging psychological thriller that is sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats. Robyn Harding is a talented writer with a gift for crafting compelling, unforgettable stories, and "Drowning Woman" is a shining example of her skill and expertise. Fans of the thriller genre won't want to miss this captivating novel.

This was one of those thrillers that has a lot of twists, and I love an unexpected turn in the story. Lee is down on her luck, homeless in Seattle, and running from some bad business back in New York. She is trying her best to lay low and get back on her feet. When she sees a woman heading into the cold ocean, she jumps into action and saves her. Hazel has a troubled story too. And things aren't always what they seem...

I really enjoyed the dramatic tension in this book and the unexpected friendship between Lee and Hazel. There are a few roll your eyes parts that are a bit unbelievable and a few loose ends, but overall it's a great thriller that keeps you guessing... and keeps you reading.

The book is split into 4 parts and switches between Hazel and Lee’s pov. I loved parts 1-3 but 4 didn’t have the same feel. I was more interested in Lee’s story and I found myself bored when Hazel was the narrator. There were a few twists and jaw dropping moments throughout the book, which was great. The epilogue was satisfying but I felt like some things were left hanging and not wrapped up the way I would have liked. It was still enjoyable and I’ll be on the lookout for more Robyn Harding books!

I've enjoyed Robyn Harding's books before, but The Drowning Woman will easily be my favorite thriller of Harding's and definitely a favorite read of 2023! I could not put this book down, I loved all of the twists along the way, and that I had no idea who I was supposed to trust as the book progressed. If you are looking for a thriller that will pull you right in, this is the book for you!

Lee is living in her car as she tries to get back on her feet and one morning sees what she thinks is a woman in distress in the ocean and goes to save her. She has no idea that the woman Hazel she saved, was trying to end her life to escape her abusive husband. Hazel's husband is a powerful lawyer and unless she wants to lose everything, including the care of her mother, she can't divorce him. Lee and Hazel start spending time together and develop a friendship, and thinking she has no one else to turn to, Hazel asks Lee to help her escape. Lee agrees to help Hazel, and then realizes that everything she thought she knew isn't as it seems.

Harding does a great job of making you really feel for Lee throughout the book, even though some of the circumstances she gets herself into she probably could've avoided if she thought them through. But Lee is desperate for not only money and shelter as she tries to get out of the hole she got herself into, but human connection as well and latches on to anything Hazel offers her. I loved that the book offered both of their points of view as the story unfolded and even though Hazel deserved a lot of what came to her for her actions, I couldn't help but root for her at times as she also starts to discover that everything she thought she knew wasn't always accurate.

Imagine finding yourself homeless, on your own, living in your car, with no one to trust. That is exactly the predicament former successful chef Lee Gulliver is in. Lee has fled New York City after her restaurant tanked due to covid, with her car and literally just the clothes on her back. While parked on the beach, she hears a woman's cries and spots her drowning in the water. Lee rescues the woman, Hazel, and it is there the twists begin.
This book is the ultimate binge-worthy read! One of the fastest thrillers I have read in a while! Filled with twists, suspense, and betrayal, this is one you do not want to miss!

4.5 stars. Lee's New York restaurant, her life's dream, was forced to close during the pandemic. Now, she's found herself living out of her car and working crappy cash jobs to hide from the shady characters she still owes money. One morning, Lee saves an apparently suicidal woman who's flung herself into the ocean, only for the woman to berate her for doing so. Hazel tells Lee about her controlling, abusive husband and her impossible situation, and they become friends and hatch a plan to help one another. The plan goes sideways when someone turns up dead, but was that actually the plan all along? It's impossible to know who to trust...

THIS BOOK had me up so late! It sucked me in and would not let go. I've never read a Robyn Harding thriller before, but I'll definitely be checking out her backlist because The Drowning Woman impressed me so much! Told in multiple POVs, I was rooting for both Lee and Hazel, and the twists took me by surprise because they weren't the twists I expected! Very pleased with this story overall. The ending is sort of unusual for a thriller, but it works so well and I can't wait for the rest of the world to check out this book on June 13th.

Thank you to Robyn Harding, Grand Central, and NetGalley for my advance digital copy.

3.5
Lee is down on her luck and living in her car when she sees a woman walk into the ocean in an attempt to take her own life. Lee quickly goes in to save the "drowning woman" and their friendship begins.

I had no idea how twisty this book was going to be and I was totally HERE for it! I loved the twists and turns that kept me on my toes. But, by the end as things resolved, I felt that there were a number of holes or unlikely points that took away from the reality and truths of the book. But, still entertaining. It was a book that fit between a popcorn thriller and a reality thriller.

Another aspect that bothered me was the mention of a sexual relationship of master/slave and the abuses within. It was never descriptive or gratuitous, but mentioned repeatedly. Kinda made me feel yucky about it, but the author uses it as a plot point (not a spoiler).

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the advance e-copy of this book.

This was so twisty! Such a great psychological thriller! I loved the alternating POVs - always a favorite of mine!! This one’s out 6/13 and I definitely recommend picking it up. It’s going to make a great summer thriller!!

This book, this book! One of my absolute favorite thriller writers! She is an auto-read for many of us. A post pandemic story that we all need, one to keep us riveted and explore post pandemic emotions that many of us have been through - plus a thrilling plot. Five of five stars for me! Thank you to Grand Central Publishing via NetGalley for this arc. I voluntarily read it and all opinions are my own.