Homeless, on the run, and fighting just to survive, former-restaurant owner Lee is just trying to keep herself protected after losing everything during the pandemic. She's got enough to worry about, nevermind a crying woman on the beach, but she saves her anyhow and a tentative friendship begins. Her friendship with Hazel feels like a turned corner, like good things are on the way, especially once she meets a man. Unfortunately, things with Hazel aren't all that they seem and Lee is sucked into her warped relationship.

It's almost impossible to review this book without giving things away. There's so much happening in this story, but the why, who, and how are so important to it and just talking about them feels like giving too much up. Lee is a tough character to like, her flaws show, but she's determined and she's caring, which makes her a good main character. Hazel, on the other hand, is beautiful, perfect, selfless, at least we think. With multiple parts, Harding gives readers a glimpse into the lives and thoughts of both women as they form a unique friendship.

The book has unique pacing, sometimes flying by and other times dragging, sort of like real life. It's twisted, as twisted as a normal-seeming life can be. Unfortunately, the characters are gullible or naive or something and I just couldn't get behind that. I've landed on 3.5 stars, because I struggled so much with the believability of the story even though I truly enjoyed, and could not put down, this book. It's a book I'd quickly recommend, knowing others wouldn't probably dissect it as much as I did.

Wow, this was one heck of a book. I absolutely loved how the author was able to grab me from the very first page and not let go until the shocking climax. There are two narrators in the book and both were engaging and I felt sucked into the multiple mysteries going on. I thought I figured out where the book was going, so I loved how the author took it in another direction. The characterizations were amazing and the writing style had me hooked. Will definitely read more from her ASAP!

This was a pleasant surprise! The story follows two women with two different problems. One is Lee, a woman at the end of her rope - she lost everything during the pandemic, and now is on the run from a loan shark. She lives out of her car, and is about to give up when she pulls out Hazel out of the water. We learn that Hazel is in an abusive marriage, and is looking for a way out - whether it's dying or running away. Lee agrees to help.

There are twists and turns, some very obvious and some very unexpected. I enjoyed Lee's perspective more than Hazel's, as her problems seemed more relatable - sometimes cards fall unlucky, while Hazel seemed to choose her own destiny, and now wants to change it.

Overall a very compelling, interesting read. Thank you to Macmillan Audio, Grand Central for my review copies.

I always enjoy Hardings writing. Her stories are interesting and her writing is done well and pulls you in.

Lee is a little more than down on her luck. She lost everything during the pandemic, her restaurant, her family, and her life as she knew it, and she’s now on the run living out of her car on the streets of Washington. That’s where she meets Hazel, a woman she saves from drowning. Hazel is not happy to be saved from drowning and the two spark an unlikely friendship. Hazel is trying to leave her abusive husband, and who better to help than Lee, a woman who has left her own shady past.

It’s not as easy as it seems to help Hazel leave her life behind. Told through the eyes of Lee and Hazel, we are unsure who to trust, and who is out to help, and who is just out to help themselves.

This was so fast-paced, twisted and an on the edge of my seat read. It’s up there with one of the best thrillers I’ve read in 2023 hands down.

I started out really enjoying this story, as the once successful Lee, now homeless and living in her car, rescues a woman, Hazel, from drowning, only to find out she is abused and desperate to escape, even if her only choice is death.

I’m officially sick to death of reading about abusive men. Can we just stop it? Can authors of thrillers try a new premise once in a while?

But the women in this story? Could they be any weaker and stupid??? Their behavior gives women a bad name. They make one ridiculous choice after another, choices that defy logic. If I listed them all, I’d give the entire book away.

The last 50% the story jumped the shark. There were twists upon twist upon twists, one more ridiculous than the last until my eyes were rolling out of my head. Even popcorn wouldn’t help this one.

Thank you Grand Central Publishing for a Netgalley copy of The Drowning Woman by Robyn Harding to review. The perfect addition to your summer thriller TBR.

This story is told in two POVs and it is done really well. Lee is a woman down on her luck and living in her car when she hears Hazel crying and then struggling in the water. She saves her and starts planning with her to help her leave her abusive marriage. The story has so many twists, you definitely will not want to put it down. Definitely one of my favourites by Robyn Harding though that is getting harder to judge because they are all so so good. An auto buy author that just keeps getting better and better.

This is exactly how I like my thrillers; twisty and making me rethink my suspicions. I never knew who to trust and what the agenda was. I over thought this one, more than once.

I listened to the audio for parts of it too and it was as done very well. The cast was fabulous and made the characters come to life.

We LOVE a fantastic Canadian author, and Robyn Harding is exactly THAT! This book--wow. This book is one of those books where you're just continuously looking over your own shoulder while reading. Sometimes a chill would run down my spine and it's because of the incredible writing of Robyn Harding!

This book is so good! Get a copy today and you won't be disappointed!!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy!!!

So… this was my first book by Robyn Harding and groan…. that groaning is the sound of my TBR getting ever heavier from adding Harding’s backlist to it cause I LOVED this one!!! 🤩🤩

Seriously I have had SUCH a good run of luck with books recently. A psychological thriller with clever twists layered through, I was hooked from get go. Told in multiple POV, I was invested in both Lee and Hazel and how their lives were intertwining. I mean, cripes!!! 😳😳

It had a very neatly wrapped up ending, which I felt was quite fitting, and ultimately cemented the overall core of the story - friendship 🖤🖤

I can’t say much more without risking spoilers so I’m just gonna say - READ THIS BOOK!! You wont be disappointed 😄🖤

Huge thanks to Netgalley and Robyn Harding for the e-ARC and massive thanks as always to Thriller Book Lovers Promotions for having me on board to help promote.

THE DROWNING WOMAN
Robyn Harding

In THE DROWNING WOMAN, we are following Lee Gulliver. Lee is living on the streets, sleeping in her car, and showering at the gym. She has a job but it’s not enough for her to get on her feet, it’s just enough to get by.

One day while Lee is sleeping in her car steps from the ocean and she sees a woman jump into the ocean. She saves THE DROWNING WOMAN and they become friends.

One day THE DROWNING WOMAN asks Lee to help her disappear. The book unfolds from there.

There is not a lot of story here. The audiobook feels beefier than it is because it revisits the same time period from different perspectives.

I think this is done under the premise of giving left-out information and filling in the gaps. But it’s unnecessary and felt like a rehashing of information already surmised. It read like a piece of folded gum.

No matter how you fold it, it’s still just one piece of gum.

Not only is the story weak and half-baked, but unfortunately, the writing itself leaves a lot to be desired. So much is lacking in the writing that it worsened my enjoyment of the book.

The combination of these two leaves me thinking twice about Harding and her books.

Thanks to Grand Central Publishing and Netgalley for the ebook and the opportunity to provide feedback!

THE DROWNING WOMAN…⭐️⭐️

4.5 stars! An addictive and fast-paced domestic thriller that is a perfect popcorn read for the summer! It definitely lived up to the hype and I will absolutely read more from this author.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the copy!

This book has me hooked within the first paragraph. Thrillers and spooky are my jam! And this did not disappoint! I did guess the twist, but, still very much enjoyed it. Will definitely be recommending to patrons.

Robyn Harding has done it again. Her books always keep me on the edge of my seat. The twists and the way the characters intertwined were amazingly executed. This is her best novel yet!

I could not put down "The Drowning Woman!" Despite a slightly predictable plot, the pacing of the story keeps moving along and you just have to know what is going to happen next.

This is the first book by Robyn Harding that I have read and I will definitely be adding her to my list of authors to follow. Thank you #netgalley for this arc. I thoroughly enjoyed this plot. It was new and interesting with great twists. The way Harding describes Lee’s life on the street is vivid and raw. Hazel is also a very interesting character with a unique experience. This was a great thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat til the end.

I’m oh so satisfied. Robyn Harding’s latest thriller, "The Drowning Woman," sure did entertain me.

It’s pretty clear from the get-go that when Lee saves Hazel from drowning, good deed or not, it won’t turn out well for Lee. Soon, she’s caught up in Hazel’s scheme to disappear, sacrificing her own well-being to help her new friend escape an abusive husband.

It’s a dangerous mess that Lee finds herself in – a mess of lies, manipulation, double crosses, and murder – but it’s a lot of fun to watch it unfold on the page. The twists don’t ever stop coming, and Harding pulled me so deeply into the story that I never wanted to come up for air.

There’s some shoddy police work and questionable legal maneuvers; also a few minor loose ends that I wish weren’t nagging me. I’ve decided to let it all go, though – I enjoyed the ride too much to allow my book joy to be tempered.

I had the pleasure of both reading an early digital copy from NetGalley and listening to a gifted audiobook from Novel Suspects. I recommend either format but do want to mention that the dual narration by Brittany Wilkerson and Henriette Zoutomou is top-notch.


My sincerest appreciation to Robyn Harding, Grand Central Publishing, and NetGalley for the digital review copy; also to Novel Suspects for a free audiobook copy. All opinions included herein are my own.

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

dark and twisty thriller

This may be my favorite book from Robyn Harding. The Drowning Woman was a fast paced bingeable read full of twists and turns. Highly recommend adding to your TBR.

Lee made some bad choices trying to keep her restaurant alive during the pandemic and is now paying the consequences. Living in her car on the streets of Seattle, she finds herself completely unsettled after she’s robbed one night. Now with no identity, she’s found a place to park in a rich enclave, but when she saves a woman from drowning, things get really interesting. Hazel, the drowning woman, did not want to be saved!! As she takes Lee a bit under her wings and starts to share her story with her, Lee thinks she’s found a friend. When Lee meets a man at work, she is quickly smitten and is soon in a relationship . She now has two people in her corner, but can they be trusted? As Hazel tells Lee more about her abusive marriage and asks Lee to help her escape, Lee jumps on board, but all is not what it seems! Once again Harding takes us on a thrill ride of a trip journey making it hard to put this one down for even a minute. Thank you to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.