As usual, Robyn Harding has knocked it out of the park. Her books are always so compulsive and I really should plan to have off work when I start them! I don't want to do anything else once I open her books. This one was a really interesting way to tie in COVID-19 and how it affected people other than just illness. I thought it was carefully done without being too over the top and could be realistic for many. Just when I thought I had things figured out, the book took a different turn and I loved it! Auto-buy author for me!

Twisty!

Now here is a book that came along at the right time. As Matt said below, it's ridiculous, but it was bingeable and kept my interest throughout.

Basically it's the story of Lee, who used to own her own restaurant in NYC until the pandemic caused it to go under. She owes a bunch of money to a shady investor, so she went on the run and has ended up homeless, living in her car in Seattle. One day while parked near the water, she ends up rescuing a woman from drowning. The woman's name is Hazel and she wants to die because she is stuck in an abusive marriage with a wealthy powerful man. Lee and Hazel forge a sort of friendship and begin to make plans for how they can both disappear and create new lives for themselves.

What seemed to be a straightforward setup twists around itself many times. No one is who they seem, everyone has secrets, and there are surprises around every corner. I don't want to give too much away, so I'll leave it at that. This is told from both Lee's and Hazel's perspectives, alternating in sections so the reader can follow each of their stories in detail (rather than just alternating chapters which wouldn't have worked as well.)

Is this book totally beyond the realm of believability? Oh, for sure.
But it is entertaining? Yes, it definitely was for me.

I thought the twists were skillfully presented and the misdirection was done really well. I started off listening to the audiobook, which is narrated by two narrators for the two main characters and it really kept my interest. Then I switched to the print version so I could finish reading more quickly because I really wanted to know what was going to happen.

Some other reviewers said that this one was too repetitive, because we get the same incidents from the two different points of view. However, I really liked that, because it was like getting to peek behind the curtain in order to get the full picture rather than just one side of the story.

Recommended for those who like super twisty suspense novels and are in the right mood to suspend some disbelief.

So good! I read it in 48 hours! The book switched back and forth between two POVs and each section ended with a major cliffhanger. I couldn't stop reading to find out what happened.

I struggled with this one. The characters were hard to like and somewhat clueless. The pacing was awkward. Twist upon twist, but they didn't make sense and were just unbelievable. I just didn't click with the writing style.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance reader copy of this book. Being saved from drowning was just the beginning of a tragic and twisty story. Harding does a great job weaving a story different than many novels of the same genre. Never would have guessed the ending. 4.5 stars

<b>The Short of It:</b>

Harding does it again.

<b>The Rest of It:</b>

"Lee Gulliver never thought she’d find herself living on the streets–no one ever does–but when her restaurant fails, and she falls deeper into debt, she leaves her old life behind with nothing but her clothes and her Toyota Corolla. In Seattle, she parks in a secluded spot by the beach to lay low and plan her next move–until early one morning, she sees a sobbing woman throw herself into the ocean. Lee hauls the woman back to the surface, but instead of appreciation, she is met with fury." ~ Indiebound

I’ve read a few Harding books and they never fail to pull me right in. I mean, to the point where everything is pushed aside so I can be left to read. The Drowning Woman was no exception.

Lee, forced to live in her car and desperate for human interaction can’t help but fall under Hazel’s spell. What is this woman’s story? Why is she trying to kill herself? Outward appearances will tell you that Hazel has everything. A gorgeous beach house, money at her disposal and a handsome husband. But Hazel’s life is a mess and she wants out. Is Lee desperate enough to get tangled up in this web of lies if it means a chance to improve her life?

There are plenty of plot twists to keep the story moving. I eagerly picked the book up in-between work assignments, chores, and the like. I enjoyed it!! Recommend.

For more reviews, visit my blog: <a href="http://bookchatter.net">Book Chatter</a>.

When I go to start a book by Robyn Harding, I know that I need to clear out a good chunk of my schedule, because once I start, I won’t want to stop. THE DROWNING WOMAN was no different, and I’m always in awe of Harding’s ability to weave these twisty little tales for us. I’ve loved all of her books since picking up THE PARTY (way back when I started my little Bookstagram account), and I try to not go into each book with such high expectations, but it’s so hard!

In this new tale, we meet Lee and Hazel. Two very different women whose lives become intertwined after a chance encounter. Lee is now homeless after fleeing from her troubles – she is living in her car and had parked for the night in a park near the beach. When she wakes up she hears a woman yelling from the water and she jumps in to save her. Hazel is the wife of an incredibly powerful and wealthy criminal defense lawyer. They have a unique arrangement within their marriage that has created a miserable existence for Hazel and she wants out. Lee and Hazel have agreed to help each other start new lives for themselves and escape whatever they’re running from, but of course, things end up a little more complicated than we would have originally believed.

Review of The Drowning Woman by Robyn Harding

Wow. I’ve put off writing this review because I love this book so much. It’s hard to find the words. I have never been let down by a Robyn Harding book but this one is my favorite with the arrangement being a close second. This book had it all. I never saw a lot of the twists coming. I absolutely loved the two main female characters . They were a great example of strong women. I could barely put this down to do my daily activities. I gasped, teared up and cheered all during this book. It’s definitely a bona fide thriller, but it has a lot more to offer than just chills and thrills. Definitely do yourself a favor and get it today. It’s already out.

Synopsis:

Lee Gulliver never thought she’d find herself living on the streets—no one ever does—but when her restaurant fails, and she falls deeper into debt, she leaves her old life behind with nothing but her clothes and her Toyota Corolla. In Seattle, she parks in a secluded spot by the beach to lay low and plan her next move—until early one morning, she sees a sobbing woman throw herself into the ocean. Lee hauls the woman back to the surface, but instead of appreciation, she is met with fury. The drowning woman, Hazel, tells her that she wanted to die, that she’s trapped in a toxic, abusive marriage, that she’s a prisoner in her own home. Lee has thwarted her one chance to escape her life.

Out of options, Hazel retreats to her gilded cage, and Lee thinks she’s seen the last of her, until her unexpected return the next morning. Bonded by disparate but difficult circumstances, the women soon strike up a close and unlikely friendship. And then one day, Hazel makes a shocking request: she wants Lee to help her disappear. It’ll be easy, Hazel assures her, but Lee soon learns that nothing is as it seems, and that Hazel may not be the friend Lee thought she was.

If you haven't read The Drowning Woman by Robyn Harding what are you waiting for? This book is one of the best. I love this Author and all her books. The Drowning Woman is about Lee and Hazel two women who meet and become friends in dire circumstances. I use the word friends very loosely. There are so many twists and turns I couldn't put it down. Thrilling. All the Stars!

This tale of toxic friendship and total surprises is a thrill a minute which is what you come to expect from this author.

I loved this book! It kept me on the edge of my seat and had just enough twists and turns to make this a page turner. Highly recommend!

Oh my goodness! This has got to be THE summer thriller of the year. I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this book, but it was completely unputdownable. Two women from totally different backgrounds come together, in a story filled with secrets and surprises everywhere you turn. I just loved it and can’t wait to discuss it with someone! I’ll definitely be reading more of this author.

This book was phenomenal! It kept me intrigued throughout. I had been on a thriller hiatus because nothing was really sticking out but this renewed me.

Such a breathless page-turner! This book kept me guessing to the very last page. The ending was very satisfying. Taut writing and unpredictable story. Will read more by Robyn Harding!

A page-turner for sure. I enjoyed the pacing and character development and the dynamic between Lee and Hazel.

4-4.5 stars

I’m going to keep this review short and sweet because I don’t want to give away any spoilers. All you really need to know is that nothing is what it seems. The two women in this story (Lee and Hazel) are bonded by desperation and a need to survive, but the betrayal and lies surrounding them become so overwhelming. The twists throughout this story are so well crafted and shocking that you won’t be able to put this book down. If you love thrillers, you’ll love The Drowning Woman!

*Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for providing a copy of this book to review.*

Pub: June 13, 2023

Thank you @hbgcanada @grandcentralpub for the gifted copy of this book 🩵

Happy humid heatwave Wednesday 🥵

After reading a string of fantastic debuts, I've had the pleasure of reading several books by authors I’ve loved way before I knew about bookstagram.

I've been a big fan of Robyn Harding since her first novel, Her Pretty Face. If you haven't read it yet, you're in for a treat.

What constantly draws me to Robyn's books are her female characters. They are strong and interesting whether they are "good" or "bad." These distinctions are often hazy, in the best way possible, and The Drowning Woman is no exception. Lee and Hazel are good, bad and everything in between; but more importantly they are irresistibly readable.

The plot is tightly woven and the multiple POVs make it impossible to put the book down. Is Lee's POV the truth? Hazel's? Neither? I need to know!!

The twists are smart and there is one (no spoilers here) that made me smile with glee - it was just THAT GOOD.

The fact that I got to read it sitting by the ocean in the North Shore, Vancouver and then chat about it with @danythebookworm_ and @tinamayreads was just the icing on top of the cake.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

𝘼 "𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙙 𝙧𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙧𝙚𝙙𝙚𝙢𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣, 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙮𝙖𝙡, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥" 𝙛𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙬𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙛𝙡𝙚𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙥𝙖𝙨𝙩—𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝𝙮 𝙨𝙤𝙘𝙞𝙚𝙩𝙮 𝙬𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙙𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜.

I read 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 last year and I had such a blast reading that book, therefore, I was so excited to pick this book up.

I did a combo of the ebook and audio, and I loved both methods. I think the narrators were extremely engaging and brought the story to life.

I was immediately intrigued by this story and the characters. I didn’t know who to trust, but I was definitely entertained. Lee and Hazel had such a complex relationship, there were times when it felt genuine and other times it felt fake.

We get dual POVs from Lee and Hazel. Both women are completely different when it comes to their lifestyles, but a scenario brings both women together.

The plot was so engaging. There were some twists I didn’t see coming, and at times I was yelling at these characters - but oh man, I had such a blast listening to these narrators.

Fast-paced, this story had my full attention the whole time. There was a moment in the middle of the book I didn’t care for, but I had such a fun time reading about the choices these women made… and the impact they left on one another.

I also loved the way the book ended, it felt so perfect

This is one of the most captivating thrillers I’ve read in a while. The tension was extremely high and unputdownable. There are twists and turns - and so much suspense! This was a terrific and enjoyable read. I would highly recommend picking this one up!

Thank you so much NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the review eARC and Novel Suspects for the complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!

It really takes a lot for me to be captured by a thriller, especially one that isn’t a “specialty” one of sorts (if that even makes sense). This book had me on the edge of my seat and honestly a little stressed out through the entire thing. I had suspicisions on what was going to happen, but I truly couldn’t have guessed any of it.

The dual perspective narrators really made a difference for me with this one, with the back and forth between the two in the same time period, just from different perspectives. None of the characters were overly likeable, trustworthy or reliable, but boy did that ever work in this book! This thriller was a refreshing breath of air after so many medicore ones. If you’re looking for something to blow your mind, this is it!

Absolutely loved this book!! The twists and turns did stop coming and I did not picture the ending at all.