Thank you NetGalley for the arc of The Note by Alafair Burke.

Three friends who have inevitably in life ebbed and flowed together and apart in life have found themselves on vacation together to recharge. Each stricken by public scandal which had lead them to dub themselves the canceled crew.

After having their parking spot stolen by a couple who also appear to be vacationing a note is left on the windshield of their car alluding to an affair. The next day the man ends up missing and the canceled crew finds themselves again on the end of scandal.

I was not a major fan of this it felt rushed at the end and didn’t real come together for me the way I wanted it too. It honestly felt like a YA novel with a rushed conclusion.

Pub Date: January 7, 2025
🌟.5

The "retreat gone wrong" novel is a genre of its own by now, and so many books with that setup are being published that it takes an extraordinary writer to lift one above the crowd. My past enjoyment of Alafair Burke's novels made me expect her to do something original with the trope, but unfortunately I didn't find what I was looking for. The three lead characters are not likable and not particularly interesting, and the note that gets them involved in a criminal investigation is a silly and childish thing for grown women to do. I appreciate the chance to read an advance copy, and I do look forward to more from a writer who usually delivers a satisfying story.

Page turner, fast paced book about a girls weekend trip! Twisted story line. and kept me guessing for the whole read. One that I could see made into a movie.

Thanks to @prhaudio for my copy of 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄.

I really enjoyed this slow burn girls trip gone wrong. There were so many secrets and issues with these women. It was a whole mess! These are girls I’d prob never be friends with but that doesn’t mean I won’t read and enjoy their drama-fest.

I was a bit surprised especially with one of the relationships in the story.

It also addressed infertility issues and the process for embryos are death/divorce. Tricky tricky.

The only issue I had with this one is I kept confusing the characters BUT not enough that I couldn’t enjoy it. I was looking forward to listening to this book and hated when I had to take breaks…the women were just so…MESSY.

The Goodreads rating is 3.60 which to me is usually a book that I wouldn’t pickup but I didn’t notice it when I decided to read it. I’m glad I didn’t see that because I would’ve missed out on a good book.

The Note started off by allowing me to get to know each of the main characters, then it really took off and things got very interesting! The storyline was engaging and the author did a good job of leading the reader to specific conclusions that turned out to be completely inaccurate which kept things twisty and unexpected.

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.