a compelling and confronting social commentary on power, violence, male privilege and media’s role in perpetuating these inequities.

recently single, oblivious as to why, self proclaimed ‘nice guy’ cole has recently moved to seaside england to live out his humble little life dreams that his ambitious ex-partner deprived him of. as the earlier recount of the downfall of their relationship is told from cole’s perspective, the red flags i’m sure may to some present as a soft pink, but as the book continues and other perspectives are introduced, and other female relationships in his life explored, they shine high and bright.

unfortunately for cole, his peaceful countryside dreams are shattered when two young women, walking to raise awareness for violence against women, go missing. as one of the last people to see them before their disappearance, the interaction not one he feels particularly proud of, the internal and external revelations about cole this brings, are uncomfortable, but as a woman, sadly not entirely shocking or surprising.

while coles actions are morally apprehensible, the book is not simply a platform for male slander as one may suspect with cynicism, as the women in the story can also be held to the same account. however, as the story of the two missing women is told through a stream of differing media outlets coverage, ‘one of the good guys’ showcases the reality of inequity with which men and women are represented and perceived as both victim and perpetrator. with each character committing acts of questionable morality, evident is the different reactions males and females face at the breaking of moral code. mirroring reality, society are more willing to implicate women for a misuse of power or deceit, that men for perpetrating physical violence.

with ‘one of the good guys’, araminta hall has undoubtedly crafted a bookclub-worthy, clever and unique psychological thriller, with many conversational points on pressing issues of universal significance.

a spoiler free list of cole’s red flags:
- sees women in relation to himself, rather than their own person
- speaks poorly about past romantic partners and other women
- love bomber
- refuses to see a psychologist
- wants women to think he is ‘one of the nice guys’, as opposed to actually wanting their safety and wellbeing

While I appreciate the message conveyed in the book, I feel that the presentation could have been better. Additionally, I didn't like any of the characters, which affected my overall enjoyment. However, I think the book would be a good choice for those interested in feminist literature.

One of the Good Guys by Araminta Hall had me stumped. After I finished it, I just didn't know how to feel. I wanted to enjoy this more because it starts off really good. The premise was good but i struggled to finish. I was expecting gripping social commentary but this book fell short for me. I didn't connect with any of the characters. #netgalley #oneofthegoodguys

I really enjoyed this! It's unique and I think it's clever. The twists are really great and it moves at a quick pace. I would recommend this! Special Thank You to Araminta Hall, Zando and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is a wild ride. I’m honestly not sure what I can say without giving anything away-and trust me, you don’t want the surprises ruined. The beginning was a little sluggish and sometimes irritating, but that is the point, so just push through, because it’s worth it. The one plot point I can say is a man and a woman meet when they both move to the countryside. Now go read it!

Absolutely gripping, I sped through it so quickly. Kept me guessing all the way through. Really well paced and great tension

This book is not an enjoyable read. That's not to say it isn't well-written because it definitely. It's uncomfortable because it hits a little too close to home on every level.

I did not like Cole, though we aren't really supposed to. I also did not like Lennie and Molly and Phoebe and Mel, all for their own reasons. While I understood why Lennie was doing what she did, I'm not sure she went about it in the best way. Was it realistic? Absolutely, in every respect, honestly. Did it further the conversation, even in the book? No, I don't think it did. By the end of the story, we have one man who is speaking up about what women go through and how we need to start listening to women. Everyone else is proceeding pretty much as usual - Cole is exonerated and the women are widely hated. To quote Taylor Swift: "I think I've seen this film before, and I didn't like the ending." The end of the book didn't leave me with hope, it left me despairing because it's all to easy to see that this is exactly how things would play out in the real world.

Essentially this book was almost like a case study in what happens when white women go missing, particularly if they're not afraid to speak up and speak out. It all feels too "real" because anyone who has listened to a true crime podcast, or watched Dateline, or even just read the news has seen a story like this play out, only with a far worse ending.

This was a good read - I really enjoyed this book. I'm so glad that I got the chance to read it early and will definitely be recommending it to multiple people who enjoy these types of novels. I enjoyed the characters and especially enjoyed the writing by this author. I'm excited to see what the author comes out with next as I'll definitely be reading it! Thank you to the publisher for my early copy of this book!

For single straight women, the search to find a “nice guy” can often prove to be frustrating. And One of the Good Guys by Araminta Hall makes the task seem not just frustrating but quite close to impossible—because even the good guys are hiding something dark beneath their kind, thoughtful appearances.

Full review published on NightsAndWeekends.com and aired on Shelf Discovery.

I really struggled to engage with this book. I was really looking forward to it, and there were times I thought it might be taking a positive turn. But the messaging was really a turn-off & I finished it with a rather icky feeling.

"One of the Good Guys" explores the thought-provoking dilemma that in a world where most men claim to be good, why do women still feel fear when walking alone at night? The story unfolds as Cole, recently separated and now a wildlife ranger in a remote seaside location, befriends Leonora, an artist living nearby. Initially portrayed as a meek and nice guy, Cole's character takes a surprising turn when viewed through the lens of his estranged wife's perspective.

Author Hall takes her time building the narrative, allowing readers to immerse themselves in Cole's world in the first part. As the story progresses, we gain insights from both Cole's wife, Mel, and Lennie. What becomes apparent is that none of these characters are truly good people. The narrative delves into complex psychological issues, exploring desires for family, the search for someone to fill parental voids, and the impact of gender stereotypes.

Beyond personal dynamics, the story tackles broader societal issues, including how social media shapes news consumption and the tendency to pass judgment without complete information. The mystery element revolves around two young women raising awareness about violence against women who go missing on New Year's Eve while camping nearby.

The narrative unfolds in a non-linear fashion, bouncing back and forth in time and shifting perspectives. While the book may start slowly, it gradually captivates the reader, becoming increasingly difficult to put down. The intricate plot prompts reflection on the raised issues long after the book is finished.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gillian Flynn Books for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Would recommend for fans of…
🤦‍♂️ You
🤦‍♂️ Promising Young Woman
🤦‍♂️ Don’t Worry Darling
🤦‍♂️ The Last Housewife

One of the Good Guys is one of those books that’s really hard to talk about given all of the twists, but all you need to know is that this book is perfect for anyone looking for a tense and provocative thriller that discusses gender and power dynamics in our society.

Keeping things vague, One of the Good Guys shares some similarities with the book You. Cole, the protagonist, would get along marvelously with Joe Goldberg, and reading from his POV at the start of the story was chilling. After that, things take a turn and the story becomes something completely different. I really enjoyed the other POVs that were included, as well as the texts, social posts, and transcripts that were incorporated throughout.

What kept this from being a full on five star read for me was the slow start in combination with an ending that felt a little flat compared to the rest of the story. I can understand why Hall chose to end the book the way she did, but it just felt like a bit of a letdown after the tense pages that preceded it.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book, but do acknowledge that it can be heavy. Be sure to check out content warnings and don’t hesitate to DM me if you have any questions about it.

One of the Good Guys is out now. Thanks to NetGalley and Zando Projects for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

It's taken me a while to write a review on this book. Not because I haven't had the time, but because I've been thinking about it. It's definitely a book that stuck with me. There's two parts to this book - the book/story itself, and the message it delivers. As a woman, right off the bat I could see issues with the characters and the story line. As things progressed, my book detective brain could see right through it. But I don't think this book was meant as a mystery. This book had a message to bring to light. You have to finish reading the whole story to see where it was going.

One of the Good Guys is a smart, original novel that I am still thinking about. It is a book that I think works best when the reader goes in blind, so I would avoid reading any summaries or descriptions. The mystery aspect was the least compelling to me; I absolutely love what the author has to say about gender roles, relationships, art, media, societal expectations. I appreciated the mixed media elements and feel they really added to the book. I loved the first 2 perspectives, and initially did not love the ending however on deeper reflection, it works well. This is a great selection for anyone interested in well-written feminist books who do not mind unlikeable characters. It would be a fantastic book club choice with plenty of discussion points. Thank you to NetGalley and Gillian Flynn books for an advanced digital copy. 4 stars.

The women depicted in this novel were full of anger and hate and revenge. I would never have finished it except I really wanted to know how all of that would play out. I guess it was a depiction of what our society has devolved into becoming: totally disinterested in truth; hungry for someone to victimize; and interested only in how they can benefit themselves from destroying someone else. The entries from social media knew nothing about the people they were supporting or blaming, but I guess I see this every day in real life.

Did the author write this as a treatise on society, thinking that people would see themselves for what they’ve become? Or did she write it because she, herself, is full of anger and hate and revenge and needs an outlet?

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Quite frankly I would have been really upset if I’d paid good money for it.

One of the Good Guys was honestly a miss for me. I went into the novel believing it to be a psychological thriller and it was not. It read like literary fiction.

The first 40% we have Cole’s POV and I believe it was the intention to lay out his red flags and I truly hated this guy. So that was props to the author for eliciting such emotion. There was little to no action just basically character development on Cole.

Then we get the wife’s POV and I did stick with the book because I kept thinking any minute the thrilling part will happen.

What is supposed to be the thriller is really falls flat and wrong because I don’t think it achieved at all what they wanted. I really didn’t like all the social media posts.

Typically I will DNF a book if I feel like it’s going to be less than 3 stars and to be honest I’m noting giving it 2 for bad writing. The writing isn’t bad I just really didn’t like decisions the author made and how it was handled.

The whole book is basically a huge trigger with infertility, rape, control, and a scene depicting skinning a rabbit.

Thank you to Gillian Flynn books for my advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

I think you know what you are getting yourself into when you read a book under Gillian Flynn’s imprint - men behaving badly, secrets, surprise twists, and women bent on seeking revenge. I enjoyed the coastal setting and found it hard to put down. Suspense with a psychological twist!

Thank you to Sandi and NetGalley for this ARC.

This was a mix for me. There was some good. It starts off relatable: wanting to get away from it all after a bad breakup. Finding solace outside. Finding a new person to like.

It also has a lot of social commentary and dynamic analysis. Interesting at times. Overkill at others.

Dead people. Can’t have a thriller without those.

The trials of being a woman. The trials of being accused.

It’s a lot.

Overall, hmmm, hard to judge, but I’ll go with a 4.

This is an awesome book that hooked me from the beginning! Cole has moved to the country and is a new ranger, trying to move on from his ex-wife Melanie who divorced him but wants to keep the frozen embryos as they were once attempting a pregnancy. In his new cliffside home, he meets Lenora whom he intends to get to know as she's an artist and is also single and, he assumes, lonely as well. As all this transpires, there is a famed Walk for Women going on along the coast below as too many women are being targeted and assaulted and this is an attempt to raise money for the cause. And then everything goes wrong...and I mean seriously haywire! Enough said. Just read and try to put it down--because you can't!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

OMG what a story. Araminta Hall really goes there with her books. In the beginning of this story, at around the 1/3 mark or so I was like where is this going?? (in an extremely intrigued way). And then the story starts shifting, and the rest of the story really goes off and gets a little unhinged? It's definitely a "good for her" story, which I love. But I also I think that Araminta Hall is leaving some things as ambiguous and not necessarily good or bad, and leaves it open to the interpretation of the reader. This would make such a good book club selection. Araminta, I will continue to pick up everything you write.