Thank you to Netgalley and to the publishers for this ARc in exchange for my opinion.
This was the first book I read by this author and under the promise of there being twists I was excited to give it a try. What started out as a silly prank by three friends on a girls trip turns into a murder investigation. The characters of May, Kelsey, and Lauren were all perfectly imperfect and very believable. Their friendship was not without its faults which made it that much more enjoyable to read. My biggest issue with the book was I saw the twist very early on but overall I really enjoyed this book.

The beginning of this book was set up so well. A group of friends find themselves wrapped up in a murder investigation, starting from a note they left on the victim’s car. Around halfway the story started to fizzle out a bit and it was hard to keep track of the characters and their thoughts on the investigation.

Three long time friends meet at the Hamptons for a girls trip. They have had a lot of drama in each of their lives but they are trying to bypass that and continue being friends. I was very excited to read another Alafair Burke book. This book was okay, a little repetitive in parts. It did keep me guessing until the very end, but the characters weren't likeable and they all behaved badly and lied to each other.

This book didn’t blow me away, but I had fun. I thought all of the characters were completely insufferable, but I was sucked into their drama from the beginning and I just had to know what was going to happen. The ending dragged a bit, and was resolved in a format that I don’t especially enjoy (purposely being vague to avoid spoilers), but it still ended up being interesting.

All in all I’m glad I read it. I went into it expecting it to not be fantastic as I’ve seen some less than stellar reviews (and was prepared to DNF early on if needed), but I was pleasantly surprised. I was entertained, the pages kept turning, and the writing was good enough to not distract me from the story. It’s not a book that will stick with me, but was good for a few hours of enjoyment.

Thank you to Netgalley and Knopf for the digital ARC of this book.

I can't resist a book about rich people behaving badly. Three life-long friends get together for a weekend in the Hamptons and clothes aren't the only kind of baggage they bring with them. Each of them holds secrets that threaten to be revealed when an innocent prank goes horribly wrong. This is a solid thriller that will keep you guessing.

Kelsey, Lauren, and May and three friends that are meeting up to try to reconnect on a girls trip. They each have their own personal life issues going on that have garnered some unwarranted attention into their lives. While on their trip, someone steals their parking spot. Unbeknownst to the other girls, Kelsey places a note under their windshield accusing the guy of cheating on his girl as a prank. Only... it's not so funny when the man goes missing and eventually turns up dead. Is it one of the girls? Or is someone else involved? Are they being framed?
I personally didn't like any of the characters. All three of them were just so problematic and toxic. They came across and immature and childish. I didn't see the twist coming though. I never even slightly suspected who it was. And also... it turned out the prank was so much of a prank and went way deeper that what was actually happening. I did get a little confused when all the connections were trying to be made. I feel like that part of the story was a little all over the place and slightly confusing. I feel like this story was promising. The premise was intriguing. I enjoyed the plot. However, I feel like the story just fell flat in some areas to me.

May, Lauren and Kelsey have been best friends since May was a teenager. They don't see each other often now that they have grown up and moved in different directions, but they have stayed in touch. Now they have reunited for the first time in years, renting a house in the Hamptons for a week. When a chance encounter with a pair of strangers leads to a drunken prank that goes horribly awry., the three women are thrust into the middle of a police investigation. May begins to wonder if Lauren and Kelsey are keeping secrets from her, testing the limits of her loyalty to lifelong friends.

I am normally a big fan of this author's books, but this one was a miss for me. I didn't find any of the three women likable, and the book was a slow burn for the entire book. Between the two, it made it incredibly hard to stay engaged. This may be a case of "It's not you, t's me" , and this definitely won't stop me from reading future novels by her. Overall this is a solid 3 out of 5.

The Note was a good, twisty novel that tells the story of three old friends who have recently rekindled their relationships. First, in a group chat, figuring out the spelling bee puzzle with an evolution into planning a weekend in the Hamptons. All the friends have had scandals in their pasts, which are hinted at until those reveals. On the first night out of the trip, they play a bit of a drunken prank on somewhat steals their parking spot, and this prank winds up backfiring on them when that person goes missing.

The first few chapters were a little confusing for me as there were hints to the past that seemed more than just a teaser. I had to go back a few times because I thought I missed something. That worked itself out eventually where you had enough information. The book had a nice pace, moving from past to present, and explained more about the dynamics of the friendships. I thought the book was going down the frenemy path but was happy when it became more about the bonds of friendship. It's also easy-ish to identify the real murderer before the conclusion but was still a satisfying ending and closure.

I would recommend this book to people who enjoy thrillers. Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for the advanced copy.

Another excellent Alastair Burke book. This one was creative! I wasn’t expecting where it was going and was hooked from the start.

The Note
Alafair Burke
January 07, 2025

Three friends; May, Lauren, and Kelsey have decided to spend a long week together in the Hamptons at an AirBnB. Before leaving May and her fiance, Josh discussed whether or not it was a good idea. There had been some problems between the three but May had wanted one last romp with her friends. She only planned to stay for the weekend due to work. There was also Kelsey’s brother, Nate who planned to arrive Monday. The duo were not the best of friends so that would work out for the best. As it turned out for the most part it was a wild and wonderful few days. There is always a dinger that gets thrown in but May went home and all seemed to work out.
The Note will be published on January 07, 2025 by Alfred A. Knopf. I was able to read Burke’s latest novel via NetGalley. The Note was full of questions, answers and long conversations. There was some re-reading but the plot flowed on. Do enjoy this one.

his is my first read by Alafair Burke, I thought it was good. The story is about three friends- May, Lauren, and Kelsey that have a toxic relationship. They decided to spend a weekend together in the Hampton’s after several years apart. The three women go out to dinner and while waiting for a parking spot, a young couple steals the parking spot that they were waiting for. A note was left on the car which was supposed to be a harmless prank but turned out to be so much more. It then takes you on a journey of how this innocent note ties all these women together into a crime they were not involved in. And why do all three girls have pasts that have ruined their reputations? The book details the 3 relationships, courtroom drama and a surprise ending.


Many thanks to NetGalley, Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, & Anchor for the advanced copy.


Rating 3.5 starts

I would like to thank the author for allowing me to read & review via ARC. I enjoyed reading this and it kept me interested and anxious to see what happens next. I liked the writer's style & would love to read more by them.

The Note by Alafair Burke is a great mystery that keeps you guessing till the very end. May, Lauren and Kelsey have been friends for a long time. Each of them at one time have experienced being “cancelled.” They decide to spend some quality time together in the Hamptons. What starts out as a fun night turns into a real problem for the friends. After waiting for a prime parking spot only to have it taken by another car, one of the ladies writes a cryptic message on a napkin and leaves it on the car windshield. At first this seems like a harmless prank. But when the driver of the car is reported missing, the friends start down a very twisting and emotional path. They soon realize that they knew the missing man from years ago. This coincidence brings them to the attention of Detective Carter Decker and puts them front and center as suspects. Mystery story telling at its best. I enjoyed this book very much.

DNF @ 44% 😔

I was really looking forward to Alafair Burke’s newest thriller. Unfortunately, it didn’t work for me at all. The characters are completely insufferable and the connection between past and present was loose at best. It seemed like a little of everything was stuffed into this book and none of it went together. The “incident” referenced in the blurb ended up being a totally innocuous event and there wasn’t much effort put into making it seem like something the reader should care about. Sadly, I have no interest in learning more about these awful characters or what happens to them.

The Note by Alafair Burke
🌟🌟🌟
Three long time friends decide to take a vacation in the Hamptons, but it definitely doesn’t go as planned.
This story has secrets, lies and a prank that went terribly wrong. The book contains suspense, twists and murder!
I enjoyed the premise of the book, but was a bit underwhelmed by it all. I was hoping for more excitement and entertainment.

Thank you to NetGalley for an arc of this book!
*It comes out January 7th!*

this was a good book! I like how there were flashes to the past incident which was kept secret and then in the present there is a big issue going on. The themes of girlhood, growing up, and deceit are prevalent here in this book. I liked the eeriness and suspense of it all. It was well written!!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complementary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

I'm here to tell you I have beef with this book.

First off - it's a goofy premise. Three friends all come together because they've all been "canceled" in one way or another and they need to commiserate. They have a group text even! 😒

Then they go out for a night together, one of them leaves a lil note on a car - suddenly dude from the car is missing and nonsense ensues.

Whatever. These three women are in their thirties and they act like children. As the book progresses, none of the responses to anything make sense. It's all off the wall and goofy.

And don't even get me started on that off the wall ending.

This review was unhelpful. And could have been better written. But I am grouchy. 🤣

This one was just ok for me. It was pretty slow to start, but then gained traction as the book went on. I felt like parts of it were jumpy. Some of the dialogue also didn’t seem to flow well. I just couldn’t hear their emotions (sadness, anger and shock) throughout the book, which is a problem for sure. I also had trouble rooting for or liking any of the main characters. Josh is super annoying as well. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for my free copy to read and review!

I have been a fan of Alafair Burke from the beginning and this may be her best work yet. Three friends each carrying their own secrets meet up for a weekend in the Hamptons where a prank goes horribly awry. Stevie Nicks, a $12,000 handbag and NYT spelling bee game references. This book was everything I didn’t know I needed. Thank you Alafair Burke and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advanced copy of ‘The Note.’ And a special shout out to publicist and my favorite Bookstagrammer Abby Endler, @crimebythebook

The Note by Alafair Burke is a tense and deeply engaging psychological thriller that will have you hooked from the very first page. At the center of the story is May, a "good girl" who gets caught up in a mess after a prank with old friends spirals into a police investigation. The friendship between May, Lauren, and Kelsey is complicated and fraught with secrets, and as the story unfolds, you're never quite sure who to trust.

Burke masterfully builds suspense and tension, layering twists and secrets that will keep you on edge. The complex dynamics between the three women add depth to the plot, and you'll find yourself questioning loyalty, guilt, and betrayal right alongside May. It's a story about friendship, the weight of past mistakes, and the consequences of hiding the truth.

I couldn’t put this one down! If you’re a fan of twisty thrillers with rich character development and emotional complexity, The Note is a must-read. Perfect for fans of authors like Gillian Flynn and Lisa Jewell, this book is sure to leave you thinking long after you turn the last page. A solid 4.5 stars!