A lighthearted prank between friends May, Kelsey, and Lauren, involving a note, quickly takes a dark turn when a murder occurs. This engaging whodunit kept me guessing, with a rotating list of suspects. I had a great time trying to unravel the mystery and discovering the depth of each character. The rich history between them added so much to the story, making it hard to know who to trust at any given moment. It was the perfect quick read mystery with the perfect amount of characters and mysteries to unravel.

Thank you NetGalley, Alfred A. Knopf Publishing, and Alafair Burke for the e-ARC.

I was immediately captivated by this fast-paced plot from the first page, thanks to the deftly constructed numerous points of view and the compelling backstories that made me like the characters despite their very unlikable traits.

The plot itself was seductive and enticing. There was plenty of dirt to be revealed because of the numerous unexplained deaths and the large number of people who were socially "cancelled." The feeling of complete realism, however, was what elevated the whole experience. And I'm glad to report that everything came to a genuine climax and ending that made me want to read more. as well as accepting all of the statements.

The biggest factor with this book is quite a few of the characters are unlikable. They were not precisely my favorites, ranging from a black-and-white factfinder who was always persuaded of her own viewpoint to a reckless, hasty, wealthy girl who irritated me a little. But in spite of this, the numerous revelations—all of which were shocking but beneficial—and the complex network of lies and secrets more than made up for whatever annoyance I may have had, and I quickly read the book.

If you're looking for a good, quick book that you can easily binge in a single setting or two this is the book for you. If you're looking for a book that will give you game show vibes with drama this is the book for you as well.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC! This was super fast paced & had me on the edge of my seat wondering who did it. Definitely didn’t see that ending coming 🤯

3/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Three Besties that haven't been together in a while, have a weekend in the Hamptons to catch up. One pulls a silly prank that sets off a chain reaction like none other. Great fast paced thriller that keeps you guessing to the very end. And of course I LOVED the Rod Stewart mention!
Thank you to Netgalley, Knopf and Alafair Burke for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC!

I am a huge fan of Alafair Burke and all of her books have been a hit for me, with the exception of this one. The premise had the best elements - female friendship, the Hamptons, a mysterious note and unsolved issues from the past. What's not to love?

Well, this book took me a very long time to get through - 10 days? - when a typical Burke book takes two. I loved the note and the disappearance but it just did not end up working for me. All of the characters were unlikeable and I did not really care about the outcome. The friends involvement in the case was too much and also unrealistic.

Still a forever fan of Alafair Burke, this will just go to the bottom of her ranking.

What happens when 4 old friends get together, after each has been 'cancelled' in the press and all have a past secret they are keeping that has split them apart? A whole lot of stress and underlying drama, then add a lot of alcohol and a stupid decision, and suddenly it seems like everything they knew about each other was a lie, and nothing is as it seems. As May tries to work a way to keep them all out of a police investigation, while trying to keep her new job intact, she soon realizes there are multiple mysteries that have to be solved, as they each are only a few steps away from being a suspect in a murder case, as their secrets all cross over each other. A page turner, this one is sure to become a movie series! Love the take on cancel culture that wasn't trite or woke, but honest and true!

I loved everything about this book! It was a mystery with a legal aspect wrapped up in it. With themes of friendship and betrayal you really can’t go wrong.

I loved the fast paced writing, and that the women were coming together because of individual situations. What really glued me was the mystery. I really enjoyed it watching it unravel and loved the conclusion.

Reading in Between the Wines book review #3/125 for 2025:
Rating: 3🍷🍷🍷
Book: The Note
Author: Alafair Burke
AVAILABLE NOW!!!

Sipping thoughts: We all have passed notes in class or to someone. Who knew notes could be so harmful?!
I really liked the concept of this book. I immediately figured out the ending. I didn't know why, though, and that threw me for a little loop. Read this book if you're looking for troubled friendship, love, loss, infatuation, lies, and murder.

Cheers and thank you to @Netgalley and @KnopfPatheonVintageAnchor for an advanced copy of @TheNote.

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I'm usually a big fan of this author and was excited to read this book. I just could not get past the unlikeable characters and that I did not care about the outcome.

I have mixed feelings about this one. While I did enjoy the plot and did finish it because I was curious to how it ended, I was also very frustrated and at times annoyed with the characters. I would read more by this author!

This was my first book by Alafair Burke, but I was very intrigued by the premise of three friends going on a vacation and a mysterious disappearance happening that brings up old secrets. This book delivered on what was promised.

I liked that the book kept moving. There was always something happening and the events in the women’s lives were real motivations for their actions. I made a prediction about 1/4 of the way through the story and about 2/3 through that came true. It meant I needed to make another prediction. This one came true also. These twists were good twists, but to me they were also not twists to me. I would say this is a good book for someone starting out in the genre.

Toxic girl trip books are super fun, and this one had all the requisite elements: three friends with secrets (including one from the past), a Hamptons setting, and a lot of drama. Though many found all the main characters unlikeable, I thought the connections between the past and present storylines were interesting.

I really enjoyed this quick paced thriller by Alafair Burke. Three friends go on vacation, a simple prank, what could go wrong? The story is full of tension and secrets between the character that will have you turning pages to see what happens next. While I felt a lot of 'issues' were raised in the book, it was still an enjoyable read. Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this ARC.

📚:The Note by Alafair Burke
⭐️: 3.5/5 (rounding down on #goodreads)

A note left on a windshield. It was meant to be a harmless prank while on a girls vacation in the Hamptons. Instead it leads to everyone’s secrets, lies, and their turmoil-filled pasts.

I feel torn with this book - the plot unfolded well, the characters were compelling (albeit unlikable), and the twist at the end was one I didn’t *quite* see coming. That said, the final 20% felt rushed, having the big twist land flat-footed. Overall an average thriller read where I wish I was left more shocked than I was.

Thanks to Knopf via @netgalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. The Note is out now.

3.5 ⭐️’s
It all started as a silly prank until it turned into something much more serious. Three besties, all with black marks on their reputations already, are enjoying a week end retreat when one of them plays a prank that might have just ended up deadly. Will they be able to escape the repercussions this time, or will one of them end up in prison for murder? Burke’s books are always an entertaining and this one is no exception, although the perp was easily recognized early on. Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

The Note is about three things: a practical joke, homicide investigations, and long friendships. May, a law professor, reconnects with two old friends, Lauren and Kelsey, for a girls weekend in the Hamptons. As a joke, Kelsey leaves a note written on a napkin on the windshield of a car that stole a parking spot from the friends. When the driver of that vehicle is found dead, the three friends are questioned by detectives. The women's past are brought into question and readers learn this is not the first mysterious death about which they have been interrogated. Much of the novel involves the background stories, going back to the three women's college days and time spent at a summer camp. Recommended for readers who enjoy detailed then and now books and fans of novels about lifelong friendships.

I enjoyed this popcorn thriller. It was a fun read, I did guess some of the details but it didn't take away from the reading. If you are new to thrillers or looking for less intense thriller this would be a great pick.

The book was undeniably enjoyable, but I did find the characters hard to like. Regardless of their flaws and the tangled web of lies they weave, the murder mystery is the core of the story and definitely compelling. The well-constructed plot, pacing, and realistic conclusion make up for the unappealing characters and keep the reader invested in the twists and revelations that unfold.

The story revolves around May Hanover, a by-the-book woman and the ambitious daughter of a Chinese single mother who graduated from both Harvard and Columbia. Known as "Little Sheriff" to her friends, May’s promising law career unravels when a subway video of her emotional breakdown goes viral. This public incident sparks a reunion with her old friends—Lauren, who’s embroiled in an adultery scandal, and Kelsey, whose husband’s unsolved shooting case haunts her. The media frenzy forces May into hiding, bringing the trio back together.

Their girls' trip to the Hamptons, where Kelsey rents a luxurious Airbnb villa, turns tragic when a drunken prank goes wrong, resulting in a missing person case. As the situation escalates and secrets come to light, the three women discover uncomfortable truths about each other, testing their friendships and loyalties. Can they trust each other, or will they betray one another to save themselves?

I recommend this novel to anyone in search of a page-turner, especially fans of women’s fiction, legal thrillers, and mysteries. Just be prepared to navigate the unlikable characters, but the suspense and intrigue will make it worth the ride. Grab some snacks and a big bowl of popcorn for an engaging read!

Great read, the time jumps and multiple narrators were well done. Three friends who used to be close come together for a vacation. But a harmless prank goes terribly wrong. When the police start an investigation, secrets come out.

My first read by this author, and it was quite intriguing. Mystery, secrets and suspense. A very good way to be introduced to an author I look forward to reading again