I really wanted to love this book. The plot outline captured my attention the first time I read the blurb. I love a good mystery and the one surrounding this group of three women looked to be just what I was looking for in my next read. But it didn't fill the bill for me.

The story surrounds a group of three women who call themselves “The Canceled Crew” as a result of the bad events that had befallen each of them. Lauren, Kelsey, and May had been friends since their younger days—especially those spent at Summer Camp. But something happened at that camp the last time they all attended that forms the core of the mystery of this book.

The book was well crafted. The author is an excellent wordsmith, creating sentences and paragraphs that capture each scene. The scope and flow of the plot was well thought out. My problem with the book was that I didn't really become invested in any of the three main characters; I just didn't really like them. By the time I approached the end, that began to change, but that was a long time coming. The ending of the book was very satisfying and wrapped the book up nicely.

I appreciated the opportunity to read this book and offer my free and honest review.

Thank you @aaknopf @prhaudio & @netgalley for my complimentary copies. All opinions expressed are my own.

May Hanover, always the rule-follower, actually harbors a few secrets. When she reunites with her friends for a much-anticipated girls’ trip to the luxurious Hamptons, the stage is set for those secrets to surface.

What begins as a carefree getaway takes a dark turn after a reckless drunken prank spirals out of control, possibly resulting in the alarming disappearance of a man and the haunting possibility of murder. As the police swiftly turn their attention to one of the three friends, the women find themselves entangled in a web of suspicion, forcing them to scrutinize not only their own actions but also each other's trustworthiness in a desperate search for the truth.

This gripping narrative kept me on the edge of my seat, compelling me to turn the pages as the tension steadily mounted throughout the story. Although I struggled to form a connection with any of the three main characters—each one flawed and complex—the intricately woven plot was superb and kept me fully engaged. Even though I was able to predict some of the twists and turns, I still found immense enjoyment in the unfolding drama and the exploration of friendships tested by secrets and betrayal.

I have enjoyed several of Burke’s novels which gave me high expectations for this one! It wasn’t my favorite though. It took me much longer than normal to read through a book of this length due to the pacing. However, I enjoy Burke’s writing and will definitely read other books of hers.

I really enjoyed "The Note". It's a quick paced thriller and it keeps you on the edge of your seat right until the very end. The story pulls you in and keeps you wanting more. Would definitely recommend this for any thriller fans.

Three friends—May, Kelsey, and Lauren—who have drifted apart over the years, decide to reconnect with a weekend getaway in the Hamptons. What starts as a lighthearted prank—a mysterious note left on a stranger’s car—unexpectedly pulls them into the center of a criminal investigation. Complicating matters, each woman has a history of being embroiled in viral scandals, making them desperate to avoid further scrutiny. Despite their efforts to stay out of the spotlight, they’re inevitably drawn deeper into the mystery. With unexpected twists and turns, the story keeps you guessing, all while exploring whether these friends can truly leave their troubled pasts behind.

Thank you so much for the advanced copy read! I enjoy thrillers and was excited to read this one as it looked exciting from the cover. However it sadly was a Do not Finish for me. I just could not get into the characters and story in general. As always I appreciate the early copy!

I really enjoyed reading The Note by Alafair Burke. May and two of her reunited friends have a weekend getaway that is supposed to help them relax and reconnect. Everything is going well until an encounter with a stranger turns deadly. May begins to question if her friends know more than she does. When old secrets are revealed, will these friends be able to trust each other again?

The Note is a really good read that I enjoyed very much. The friendship between the three women feels toxic at times and is hard to unpack. This story pulled me in though, and I really wanted to know how a harmless prank turned deadly. I thought this was a good read.

I really struggled with this writing style and at many times it was hard to follow what exactly was happening. This book is written in third person POV so if you struggle with that POV, I’d recommend skipping this book.

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of Alafair Burke’s latest, The Note. It follows May, Kelsey and Lauren, friends who have gone viral for one reason or another, trying to lay low and enjoy a vacation in the Hamptons. They play a prank on someone, but when he winds up missing, a lot comes to light that the women don’t know about one another.

This book was a pretty quick read, and I shifted my opinion on the “whodunnit” aspect a couple of times. Ultimately the resolution fell flat for me, and I felt like it took a LONG time to get there too. I was almost 90% into the book by the time we knew who the culprit was, which didn’t leave a lot of time for the resolution. Ultimately it was an entertaining read though, and I’d recommend it when it releases on 1/14!

I would highly recommend this book. I have enjoyed other books by the same author.. With a twist to who the murderer is. Good psychological mystery,

This is my first book by author Alafair Burke. I enjoyed this popcorn thriller with a sprinkle of legal drama and a whodunnit murder mystery. The ending felt a little rushed but overall a good suspenseful novel.

I enjoyed The Note by Alafair Burke. This book is about 3 lifelong friends who reconnect on a girls weekend in the Hamptons. A harmless prank ends leads to a police investigation and unearths secrets which causes the friends question their relationship with each other.

Good pacing for the book and the story kept my interest.

Thank you to NetGalley & Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for letting me read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Sort of a run of the mill thriller, but definitely with some catty drama which I do love in novels. Not sure this one is overly memorable, though. I did like his other book a touch better!

I've really enjoyed all of Burke's novels thus far, so I knew I needed to pick this book up. But I ended up being disappointed. It has all the makings of a book I'd enjoy--with an Asian protagonist, which I'm seeing more of and loving, and an interesting hook. But the pacing and the plot had a lot left to be desired. That said, I think she's a great thriller writer so I'll still pick up her books.

What starts as a harmless prank spirals into a deadly game of secrets, lies, and betrayal in Alafair Burke’s gripping thriller, The Note.

May, the quintessential good girl, is thrust into chaos when a drunken joke with her two best friends during a holiday in the Hamptons puts them at the center of a missing persons investigation. But as the case unfolds, dark secrets resurface, friendships fray, and trust becomes a dangerous gamble.

Burke’s knack for creating morally complex characters shines as she peels back the layers of guilt, loyalty, and hidden truths. The twists come fast and sharp, leaving you questioning not just the three friends, but everyone involved.

If you love thrillers that delve into the messy complexities of female friendship and keep you on edge until the final page, The Note is a must-read.

When a prank goes awry, a trio of close friends learn more about each other than they probably wanted to know.

May: the rule follower, perfectionist, lawyer/professor, engaged
Lauren: the elder friend, group mom, exceedingly independent, prodigal musical talent, never married
Kelsey: the poor little rich girl, pending divorcee turned widow when her husband was murdered, under daddy's thumb

May always felt pressure to be perfect as a first generation Chinese American of a single mom. Always focused on pleasing others, she seems to have lost sight of what makes her happy. Her mom did however ensure that she provided as best she could by sacrificing to send her to a summer camp usually reserved for rich kids.

This is where she meets Kelsey and Lauren. Lauren is the camp counselor and becomes close with May and Kelsey. Kelsey is the undeniable cool kid, and has taken a liking to May. All three developed a special bond after tragedy at the camp. As life went on, they each endured scandals of their own, and that only strengthened their bonds of sisterhood.

The unlikely trio got together for a summer getaway in the Hamptons, and next thing you know, with an alcohol fueled prank, they land themselves in the middle of a mess. A big mess. One that involves the police, secrets and lies.

Thanks to NetGalley, Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor, and Alafair Burke for the eARC.

Pub Date Jan 07 2025 #TheNote #NetGalley

This one started slow for me. The first section is weak. I almost put it down, but I kept reading and it definitely picked up after that section. Not including Part One, this is a solid but unspectacular mystery.

I somehow both really liked this and also didn’t? I couldn’t stand the writing. There was way too much telling instead of showing. The dialogue is crazy unnatural. And the story was kind of simplistic overall. There were twists, sure, but nothing mind blowing or that I couldn’t see coming.

However, I genuinely enjoyed reading this. I think part of what hooked me is all the details that I related to - one of the MCs is a lawyer, they all like word games, they get very angry at a bad driver (LOL). And those fun details that reminded me of me kept growing. And once I was invested, I appreciated the topics explored by the story, including privilege and cancel culture. I thought the structure worked really well also, and I liked how the plot unfolded. And some parts made me palpably anxious, which you want in a good thriller.

So overall, it wasn’t a particularly shocking, twisty book, but it was a nice one and sometimes that is exactly what you need.

3.5/5

Three friends who bonded at a very young age. Now grown and having gone their separate ways, they meet up for a weekend of fun in the sun and catch up. After the weekend is over, May finds herself caught up in the middle of a police investigation and begins to question if she really knows Kelsey and Lauren at all. Are they really her friends at all, are they keeping secrets from her...What does May really know about them...and does what she doesn't know hurt her...

In this story, three lifelong friends who have been out of touch for a while, get together for a long weekend in the Hamptons. Each of the three characters has baggage galore (involving secrets, scandals, you name it!). They are hoping to reconnect and move forward- leaving the past behind them. But something goes wrong on the first night and...
This sounded so intriguing to me. I have never read this author before, but have heard good things about her books. However, I struggled with this story. It was difficult to keep the characters straight. It was more difficult to like even one of them. And everything felt very...juvenile. A lot of time was spent on social issues, which would be good if they somehow related to and added dimension in the story. But they didn't. This detracted so much from the plot of the story that I struggled to continue.
And the prank that starts this whole thing- you really have to suspend belief to go forward with the story.

There are so many positive reviews for this- so I encourage you to check those out. I know that many people love this author, and as this is my first, I may attempt another.
Thank you NetGalley and Knopf Books for the ARC. This is my voluntary and honest review.