Good Girls Die Last by Natali Simmonds is an explosive and unapologetic novel that defies expectations. Set in the scorching streets of London during a heatwave and a serial killer on the loose, the story follows Em, a woman facing a day filled with chaos and danger. While the book initially appears to be a fast-paced thriller, it goes beyond that, delving into themes of empowerment and the challenges faced by women in society.

Simmonds' writing talent shines through as she crafts a narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The story takes unexpected twists and turns, revealing the relatable experiences and emotions that women encounter daily. Through Em's journey, the author tackles issues such as personal agency, societal expectations, and the prevalence of victim-blaming.

Good Girls Die Last is a feminist triumph that both captivates and infuriates. Simmonds' ability to evoke strong emotions and shed light on the struggles women face makes this novel a powerful and thought-provoking read. With its originality and gripping storytelling, it's no wonder readers will be eagerly anticipating Simmonds' future works in the thriller genre.

I read Good Girls Die Last in just over as day as I couldn’t put it down. It takes you on a complete rollercoaster of emotions and I’ve never felt so stressed as I breathed every step of her journey to the airport and then what happened next. This is a thought provoking thriller that will stay with you long after you’ve finished it. Thank you to NetGalley, Headline and the author for the chance to review.

<i><b>Ever feel like everything is going wrong in your life all at one time?! Meet our MC, Em.</b></i>

Em loses her job, gets sexually assaulted, abused, loses her relationship, and is trying to get on a flight to see her sister who was getting married and ill mother during a heat wave with almost no money. Em is a badass, there is no question of that. After all she's been through, she is not going to let life beat her down.

The main part of the book I didn't like was the fact that it felt like a roller coaster. The pace and excitement would go up and down, up and down, etc. Most it was Em trying to get to the airport and chaos along the way.

I feel like this book was setting up for a sequel because it ended on what I felt like was a cliffhanger. I personally am not the fan of books that end like that.

This book wasn't for me but I could see why people would enjoy it. I will check out more from this author.

Thank you Natali Simmonds, NetGalley and Headline for the ARC of this book.

I want to thank Natali Simmonds, Headline and NetGalley for this ARC read!!

This book follows our main character Em on one of the worst days she has ever had. She lost her job, she's getting kicked out of her flat and she has a flight to make ALL IN THE SAME DAY!! The poor girl is going through it... Not only is she trying to make her flight but to top it off, everything is shutting down because of the London Strangler, who has been picking off innocent girls one by one. We follow Em trying to get around London to make her flight and dodge very questionable individuals, could one of them be the London Strangler??

So here are my thoughts...

I wanted more from this book, I feel like a lot of it was just watching Em have a really bad day and I kept thinking okay what is going to be the big twist? I was actively trying to guess what the hell the twist was only for it to never really come... I really think the end should be changed a little to work in a big twist to make this book really stick in my mind! I feel like there was only one "twist" but what happened after that needs to be reworked. I don't think this is a bad book by any means, it just wasn't my type of thriller!

I say if you want a fast read that won't shake you to your core and love strong females sticking with strong females, this will be a good book for you!

Natali Simmonds’ Good Girls Die Last left me awestruck. Em has been harassed, manipulated and terrorized then snaps and fights back in this fast paced thriller set in the streets of London during a heat wave. I highly recommend this book for any woman to read. It will leave you breathless and ready to fight for women around the world.

This was a book of 2 halves. The first was the build up, the pace slow, tension rising and the second half was much faster, spilling out across the pages emphasising the change in Em's mindset. It was a great quick read.

Straight onto my top ten possibles for the year, this book is BANGING brilliant.

Main protagonist Em is beautifully broken, underlying badass and having the worse day of her life.

Follow along as things go from bad to worse to surreal with a melancholy yet uplifting finale. A novel about coming to terms with who you are under exceptional circumstances and insane pressure and full of the truths about being a woman in todays world.

Superb

A contemporary tale of a woman, Em, who has been constantly dismissed throughout her life and now takes a stand to make herself heard. Most women today have had to put up with the toxic masculinity, rape culture and harassment described here and readers will root for her.

However, I did feel that Em's journey rushing through London on a sweltering day when there was a transport strike, in order to catch a plan to attend her sister's wedding in Spain was a little over the top. A good read. Thanks to NetGalley and Headline for the opportunity to read and review Good Girls Die Last.

I loved this book. Em is a powerful protagonist who finds her voice. I was moved by her words and haunted by them as well. Anyone who’s been abused will understand Em. The silence can be deafening until you burst out with all of it. I would highly recommend this read. Excellent book.

Good Girls Die Last by Natali Simmonds is an emotional thriller and one of the best books I’ve ever read. I could not put it down!

The main character Em is every woman who’s ever been tossed aside, condescended, and silenced. She was taught from a young age to simply sit and watch. Her voice doesn’t matter. She is nothing but a disappointment to everyone, her mother and sister included.

One day she snaps, decides it’s time her voice is heard, and she suddenly becomes a hero to everyone. Everyone except herself. While using her voice has left women finally feeling empowered, valuable and worthy, Em is left, once again, wondering if life is even worth living. She finds herself on the run while still trying to please her mother, sister, and the only true love she’s ever known, Nikki.

Simmonds tells the story earnestly and gives life to what women experience daily. I wanted to join Em in her fight and let her know she isn’t alone. I wanted to thank her for speaking out, not to get the last word or win, but to simply be heard, to be seen.

While reading this book, I felt nervous, angry, sad, and anxious. I was shaking my head, and at times I wanted to scream. By the time I reached the end, the weight of emotions was so heavy, I was speechless.

I don’t know that I’ve read any other book that resonates so deeply, and I hope this isn’t the last thriller Simmonds gives us.


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Good Girls Die Last is a stunning novel. Seldom has a book evoked such visceral reactions. It was horrifying how each scene was so relatable and authentic. A doubt that there is a women alive who won’t relate to its message or identity with some of the toxic behaviour that Em has to put up with.

With a gruesome mix of toxic masculinity, female fear, and poetic heart breaking imagery it is deftly constructed. Em is magnificent and a hero for our time.

The rest of the characterisations are equally well drawn including Rose who is feisty and brave. The prose is taut, powerful, and filled with so many quoteworthy sentences to choose from. So sad that at times I found myself in tears.

The plotting is meticulous every thread tied up in the end. The setting of London in a heatwave alongside a serial killer is perfectly executed and adds to the tense atmosphere of the book.

A unique, heart-breaking, and electrifying British crime story. Gorgeously written, atmospheric and gripping. Highly topical, It is a perfect book with a perfect ending.

I love this book! And it's forever on my list of best thrillers ever! Reading the early chapters felt like recalling every microaggressive sexist and racist comment I've ever heard. It's always vague enough to make you question whether or not you should be upset about what was said to you. Following Em's intense story was like watching the pressure in a hot room build until everything blows open. The way the author describes details like panic attacks is so brilliant I could feel my heart race as I read every word. This book was so skilfully put together. I'm impressed and awed. Highly recommend for all readers looking for a bit of feminine rage at its best.

I’ve read all of Natali Simmonds books and she is such an incredible author.

Good girls die last is a book that delves into sexual harassment, rape culture and so much more that women everyday have to worry about.. we can’t wear revealing clothes in the summer without being called sluts or un-classy nor can we walk the streets at night without worrying if someone is following us. This book is so strong and gives the empowerment of women taking back what is rightfully ours regardless of what we want to do without being called out on it.

It starts off with Em having a bad day, she’s been sacked because her boss is a pig who didn’t understand the word no. She also needs to be at the airport to attend her sisters wedding but in London there is a massive heatwave (heatwaves in London are no joke btw) and all public transport has stopped running. If you thought that was bad there is a serial killer on the loose in London and Em is stranded and decides to make the walk to the airport with her huge suitcase but throughout the day we witness the reality of what a women goes through, smile more you look prettier, our shirts aren’t buttoned up all the way be careful and just so much more.

The voyage to the airport and the incidents that occur through the day is described immaculately. Throughout the book I was so keen to find out what happened with Nikki, what happened with her family in Spain and I desperately wanted to know Em’s real name. Everything about Em was so realistic, how her having a bad day like her suitcase handle breaking.. just the slightest thing at the end of a bad day can break us if bottled in long enough.

Simmonds portrayed emotions that every women has faced and still face - comments from strangers, unwanted touches, cat calling, victim blaming.. even guys walking too close behind you, how everybody blames the victims for what they was doing out by themselves or what they were wearing but not the murderer who is the real problem. Good girls die last made me so sad and so angry, I cried at the end because at the end of the day we still live in a world which still goes on like this and it doesn’t plan on changing anytime soon, when will a women not be at fault for just existing and doing what we want regardless of what we wear, speak or do with our lives with fearing for our safety.

Good girls die last is a beautifully thriller written book that shows how pressure can affect a person. It is a fast paced read that portrayals one day, I couldn’t put it down once I started. Em is an amazing character and I’m sure you’ll love Em

If you’re a person who stands with women read this book, it is everything and more. Good girls die last is going to be one of the most talked about books and it deserves it. Amazing not other words needed.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Headline for the copy of this arc in exchange of an honest review.

5*

It all started with a tweet, well a thread of tweets really. During the pandemic author, [author:Natali Simmonds|22991264], had a viral tweet that introduced me to her profile. She quickly became a permanent follow for me, her content thrilling and refreshing.

Soon after, she began to promote her up coming book, [book:Good Girls Die Last|63111551]. I was so excited awaiting this release. Being in the US was going to make this difficult, but I was determined. I started looking into to small book shops in the UK that would ship to the US, regardless of cost. To my surprise, the book was going to be release in the US via Amazon Kindle. The day the book was released, I put it on my kindle and dove in, head first.... it beat out my 60 count TBR pile.

I was NOT disappointed. This book is amazing! I can't wait to read it again, after tracking down a hardcover copy when it finally releases.

Em had a very shit day and I wasn't sure it was possible for it to get any worse. This feminist thriller was full of all the right details, making it easy to create a movie in your head (no wonder it was picked up for a live adaptation, just hope I can watch it in the US). Em's story of strength and fight was motivating. She is a powerful and inspiring women, who stands for all the right things and in the right way. She's been wronged by too many men and she demands her respect. As a women, the book was extremely relatable. A thriller unlike anything I've ever read, but full of the realest of nightmares.

If you're a progressive person who stands with women, read this book. Do not hesitate. Pick it up, read it and then read it again.

Natali Simmonds has become a must read and automatic buy author. I'm excited for whatever she does next.

Good Girls Die Last was a sweltering, blistering and bombastic thriller that delves into rape culture and sexual harassment.

The pacing in this book is so, so strong. Simmonds has captured a storm in a bottle. It is intense, with a literal clock to race against. I sped through this in one sizzling sitting. The decision to set this in the middle of a heatwave adds such a blistering atmosphere of claustrophobia and paranoia. Everything just feels so close and with an undercurrent of violence threatening to burst at any given moment. This is such a well-plotted story, with lots of fantastic twists and turns. Simmonds also cleverly weaves in this meta narrative with the use of social media as almost a secondary voice, as well as newspaper clippings and other timelines fracturing into the present moment. All of this helps to build the believability but also grow that consummate sense of danger, as you are all too aware of the serial killer lurking but also the thousands of smaller fractures incurred on a daily basis and the various other predators wandering the streets.

This is a difficult book to read at times with visceral scenes of sexual harassment and violence. It brilliantly explores the media focus on a singular monster, rather than the multitude of incidents unreported everyday. Simmonds really digs into that underbelly of female rage in a world determined to harm and oppress. It insidiously builds and builds to a point where you either crack or transform in this world. I am currently loving the explosion of media around female rage and rape culture, with this latest offering cementing itself as a firm favourite for me.

Good Girls Die Last will be one of the most talked-about thrillers of the summer and deservedly so!

Having long been a fan of Natali Simmonds’ fantasy writing, I already knew that she was a talented writer, but my goodness, I had no idea of the extent of these talents until I settled down to read Good Girls Die Last! In all honesty, I had expected a fast-paced thriller where a serial killer stalked our heroine, Em, but I got a whole lot more than I bargained for. Good Girls Die Last is fierce, passionate and utterly unapologetic, and I loved every page!

Although a serial killer walks the streets of London, Good Girls Die Last is not a thriller in the traditional sense. In fact, I would go so far as to say that it is the most original thriller I have ever read. At a time when women are being advised to stay safe inside, public transport chaos forces Em to take to her feet as she battles to reach her sister’s wedding. The heatwave that is scorching London adds to the tension, creating a feeling of something bubbling under the surface, waiting to erupt.

As I read, I found I was desperate to know Em’s story, what happened with Nikki, why she didn’t go to her father’s funeral, even her real name! Although it is hard to imagine a day that goes quite as badly wrong as Em’s does, almost everything she experiences is something that all women can understand, right down to chafed thighs in a heatwave, and broken handles on your suitcase. All of this makes a character that is entirely relatable, even if some of her actions are extreme.

Simmonds nails the fears and emotions that every woman I know has faced – the man walking too close behind you on the street, leery looks and comments from strangers, the victim blaming, how you should be a good girl, a nice girl, not attract the wrong attention. This book made me sad, but more than that, it made me angry that we still live in a world with these expectations.

Good Girls Die Last is a feminist triumph, and I cannot wait to read Simmonds’ next foray into the thriller world.

Wow! What a fantastic book.
I’ve read Natali’s other books, The Indigo Chronicles, and really enjoyed them, but this one is on another level. So many things are relatable in this story. It’s such a great read.
Definitely recommended.

Em is having a bad day! She’s been sacked because of a pig of a boss, she’s got to get to the airport in the midst of transport chaos, it’s baking hot in the big smoke and to top things off, there is a serial killer on the loose. This is before we talk about her family in Spain that she’s got to get to.

This book is quite unassuming to start with. But about halfway through a switch is flicked. It becomes a very different book. The journey Em is on despite ending at the physical location, takes her on a very different psychological route. A voyage of change, and change that doesn’t just affect Em.

The cast Simmonds created around Em I feel we’ve all met in one guise or other. An overbearing relative, a work colleague who instantly looks out for you, an individual who interprets everything for their own benefit, a Good Samaritan on the street the sleaze-bag in the pub. Em encounters a real array of characters on her 12 or so hours to get the few miles to the airport.

Good Girls Die Last is a bit of a different thriller for me. It hits a number of topical issues we face in the 21st century and shows how an accumulation of pressure and stress can affect one person. This book consumed me, I was thinking about Em when I wasn’t reading. Her situation, the world around her which could have been real given the way things are. A lack of transport, the baking hot summer, those in society taking what they want without resistance. Good Girls Die Last is a thought provoking read which my mind keeps going back to over a week after I finished it.

Whew. I don’t know where to start besides saying make sure you run and grab this book. This is one of the best written thrillers that deals with the dangers we feel as women in this day and age. It kept a fast pace and I literally couldn’t put it down. This character is amazing and you are going to love ‘Em. Don’t miss out.

This book has really left me in a dilemma as to how much I actually liked it.
I felt the pace was a bit like being on a roller coaster as in I thought it started really well, then slowed, then really picked up just after halfway through to a point where I felt like my heart was racing as it was so good, but then it slowed off again, to really pick up in the final stages of the book.
The direction this book takes completely took me by surprise and I thought it was brilliantly written in the way it happened and I absolutely loved how this book ends and the message it is sending out.
I just wish I could have connected with Em more throughout the story as that only really happened in the later stages of the book. I’m not entirely sure why I couldn’t bond with her as I do think she’s a strong character in this story, and for me to fully feel invested in a character’s story, I really need to feel that bond with them.
Therefore I rate this book 3.5 stars