May, Kelsey, and Lauren met as teens at a camp for the arts. May and Kelsey returned yearly, while Lauren, a camp director, stayed on. They became close friends over the years.

After a tragic accident the year that May and Kelsey became counselors, Lauren was fired and their friendships dwindled.

After each being exposed and shamed online for individual reasons, their friendships become rekindled online during the Covid lockdowns.

Finally deciding to get together, a trip is planned for the Hamptons. Things begin to go badly for their reunion on the first night, when the girls play a childish prank on a stranger. None of these women seem trustworthy, but they'll have to stick together and trust each other if they want to avoid having their little prank ruin their lives.

Thank you to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor | Knopf and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Pretty great thriller. I read it all in one night!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.

Loved it, recommend it. Go buy it or borrow it from your library and read it. You will be glad you did.

Highly recommend.

You just never know what will happen when you make the smallest of decisions. What if I don’t return that phone call? What if I turn right instead of left? What if I meet up with some friends for a drink?. The law of unintended consequences, You just never know. If you enjoy this type of quandary then this is the book for you. For me the book started out slow but it certainly picked up. I enjoyed the premise of the book and how it plays out.

Disclosure: A review copy of this book was sent to me by the author. All of the above opinions are my own.
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This was a fun, twisty ride. There was a lot going on between the murders, past histories and how they each are viral in terrible ways. Ok, Lauren's wasn't that bad. May was a tad over the top jumping to conclusions but I get it. Because I had side eyes but still didn't guess the killer until we were meant to. Although that other secret I'd figured awhile before. Josh was a bit of a dud so huzzah when Decker was introduced. And Kelsey...she was a lot to unpack honestly. I felt bad she had such a controlling father but at any time I just wanted to shake her.

This is another twisty, fast-paced thriller by Burke that doesn't disappoint. May is raised by a single Chinese mother with high expectations for her daughter. And, May doesn't disappoint. With her two friends, Lauran and Kelsey, they share secrets scandals and loss. Now the friends reunite after years apart for a few days in the the Hamptons. When May finds herself in the middle of a police investigation, she wonders about her friendships and loyalties.

“The Note” by Alafair Burke is a compelling legal thriller that delves into the complexities of justice and morality. The story centers around a mysterious note found at a crime scene, leading to unexpected twists and revelations that challenge the characters’ beliefs and relationships. Burke’s sharp writing and intricate plotting keep readers on the edge of their seats, while her exploration of ethical dilemmas adds depth to the narrative. The characters are well-drawn, each facing their own struggles, which enhances the emotional stakes of the story. With its blend of suspense and thought-provoking themes, “The Note” is a gripping read that will satisfy fans of the genre.

I have read several of Alafair Burke's books and have enjoyed them. The Note was no different! I was hooked immediately. My only issue is that I was a bit confused at the beginning to tell the difference between Lauren & Kelsey. I enjoyed the storyline - and was surprised when the killer was finally revealed. Thank you so much for the advanced copy of the book. I would recommend the book.

✯✯✯2.5/5 stars✯✯✯

i rounded this rating up to 3/5 stars. this book is about 3 toxic girl friends (may, lauren, and kelsey) who go on a trip together, and one seemingly harmless prank goes terribly wrong. this one took me a bit to get through, it was really slow throughout the beginning and middle for me, mostly because it had so much background info and a lot of talk about the pandemic and cancel culture. the 3 friends pretty much seem to just be friends because they all got cancelled for different reasons, and i just wasn’t a fan of that part of the plot. the book really only had me slightly on the edge of my seat at the end when the truth started to come out about things involving kelsey and it left me absolutely BAFFLED. i noticed some people said that they predicted it, but i didn’t expect it at all.
overall, this book did have some interesting parts, and the ending did leave me surprised, so i do recommend it to anyone who likes a little bit of a murder mystery/thriller type book.

thank you NetGalley for this ARC <3

I laughed when I read the premise of The Note, because my husband and I pulled a similar prank on a friend of ours one April Fools Day. Fortunately, it was just that, a prank, and we all had a good laugh afterwards. Nobody was killed.

I enjoyed this book, although I thought it had a slooooowwwww start. Once it got going, the story was entertaining, the investigation details were believable, the characters were real, and the ending was satisfying.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review The Note.

I received an ARC of this book from Knopf via NetGalley in exchange for my honest feedback. This was a solid thriller. It kept my interest throughout, and I thought the author did a good job presenting various villains. They were all believable enough that the final reveal came as a surprise. I enjoyed the friends' relationship, as I am in a same age range and could completely envision their history and circumstances as they affected the friendship through the years. Regarding other characters, May's fiance was annoying; Detective Decker was funny and smart.

The Note is a thriller focusing on the friendship of three women, reuniting in person for the first time in many years. Each, for different reasons, has had negative viral exposure in social media. And now, a simple practical joke may expose them all again. Or was it simple?

This novel is a fast, engaging read and while the ending is not entirely surprising, the journey to get there was quite entertaining. Each woman is flawed but also has redeeming characteristics as well, reminding readers that we all live in shades of gray. This is my first time reading this author and I will definitely be putting her other books on my TBR list.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Knopf for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

Three friends find themselves in a debacle when they’re in the Hampton’s and a girl’s trip goes wrong! I love the relationship these girls have…very real and so like girls! 😂 such a fun exciting read with a great whodunit aspect. Love!!! Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the ARC!

I really enjoyed Alafair Burke's newest thriller. She always has good female characters, not always the strongest characters, but always with some good depth and secrets. May was my favorite, probably because she has the legal background (always the best part of AB novels) and she had a meltdown a few years ago where she got the nickname "Asian Karen", and the video went viral. The other 2 women - Lauren and Kelsey - also had their infamous moments, so they've bonded over the last few years over their downfalls.

The book really starts after a note is left on the windshield of a man that snagged their parking space and then ends up missing. That's when things get interesting and secrets are revealed, and they all find out that none of them have been 100% honest about their lives. A popcorn thriller that keeps you entertained.

I haven't read anything from this author in a while and am so glad that I snagged this one to read. It tells a great story that takes you through a complicated friendship and makes you learn why staying so connected is important. What seemed like a harmless prank turns into interviews with the police and a full blown investigation. Definitely worth the read.

Absolute page turner!!! May, Kelsey and Lauren meet at a music camp one summer. They've attempted to stay in touch over the years but their relationships didn't seem as strong as before.

They take a trip to the Hamptons to reconnect and find themselves in the middle of a missing persons investigation.

I can't tell you more without giving too much away but I absolutely loved this book.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

When three friends with love/hate relationships vacation together in the Hamptons, a seemingly minor incident has repercussions that threaten their current and past lives. There’s a lot going on in this book: the aftermath of the pandemic, socioeconomic differences and racial inequality, MeToo references, a major “Karen” incident, family trauma, courtroom drama, flashbacks to summer camp - I appreciated what the author was trying to do, but it didn’t have the suspense and tension I wanted. It was a solid theee stars.

Overall I like the premise of the story and it high potential but to me it felt disjointed and I felt the plot lacked cohesion and the characters were not likeable
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review book

The plot of this novel had potential, and the premise was interesting; however, the characters were unlikeable and, in my opinion, the story lacked cohesiveness. I felt like the author tried to throw too much into the mix resulting in loose plot connections. Additionally, the end seemed rushed and somewhat anticlimactic. That being said, the book was entertaining enough to keep my interest, and is sufficiently good for a light read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Alafair Burke, and Knopf Publishing for sharing this free ARC digital copy.

Three toxic friends that each have their own scandal meet for a vacation weekend in the Hamptons. While going out for drinks, one of them leaves a note on the car of the person who took their parking space, that same person turns up dead in a few days. As the police investigation ensues, secrets and scandals from each of the friends past is exposed. It turns out one of the friends used to date the victim. Could the killer be one of the friends? This was my first time reading a book by this author. I think she did a great job in developing the characters. In the beginning, there’s a lot of dialogue but it revs up in the second half. I just wish there was more action, towards the end, I just wanted to find out who the killer was. It didn’t turn out to be who I thought. All in all, this was a good read. Thanks Net Galley for the ARC.