Whew! What a fast-paced, thrilling read! This was definitely a book I didn't want to put down. Each of these friends have been through something and have been made into something online. But they've also been there for each other. Just when you think you may have figured things out, I promise, you haven't lol This book had good twists and held my attention. Highly recommend!

Thank you to Alafair Burke, Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor, and NetGalley for an arc of this novel, in exchange for my honest review, publishing January 7, 2025.

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer....

The story surrounds May, Lauren, and Kelsey; three friends who decide on a weekend away in the Hamptons. The problem is that these three women all have complicated pasts and dark secrets, mix in a little alcohol and debauchery and what could go wrong....everything lol. There are always consequences to our actions. Overall I thought it was a pretty good story. I didn't love it, but also didn't hate it either. My first issue was the pacing of the book. It starts off very slow and then, out of nowhere, you're flying towards an ending at a reckless speed. The ending was very rushed and I had so many unanswered questions, leaving me slightly dissatisfied. Also, for the title of this book to be called "The Note", I was disappointed in how little of a role the note actually played. I did enjoy that there are plenty of red herrings, which keep me on my toes, and with the narrator being slightly unreliable, I didn't know who I could trust. Overall it was a solid, middle of the road book.

Im honestly not sure how I found this so engaging when I called the twist from the beginning once the crime occurs. There’s also big jumps that leave out moments where pieces are shown to click. It’s like we see someone died then jump to a few days later when some case events have already occurred. So we don’t get a play by play of everything unfolding even though the story and pacing itself is slow and fairly contained.

All that said, I found myself getting super absorbed in the story, almost like listening to a podcast. I enjoyed the FMC because she felt very different than most thriller FMCs. She’s messy yes, and tightly wound for sure, but also her background and barely simmering rage made her intriguing yet also relatable. The friend side characters were also compelling and I enjoyed the way they were included in providing depth into the friendship arc and the FMC background.

Overall, an enjoyable read, about 3.75 stars.

The Note by Alafair Burke is a thrilling psychological novel that keeps readers hooked from start to finish. The story centers around Megan, who finds a mysterious note on her doorstep that is connected to a traumatic event from her past. As she unravels the mystery, the novel explores themes of trust, betrayal, and secrets.

Burke excels at creating complex characters, and Megan is a relatable, flawed protagonist whose emotional journey drives the plot. The suspense builds steadily, with unexpected twists and alternating perspectives that keep you questioning who to trust. The writing is sharp and engaging, making the tension feel real without relying on action-packed scenes.

While the ending may be a bit predictable for some readers, the overall experience of following Megan's search for the truth is satisfying. The Note is a strong psychological thriller with emotional depth and suspense, perfect for fans of character-driven mysteries.

Whoa! I loved this thriller. May and her friends go away for a long weekend in the Hamptons, but when a drunken prank results in a police investigation, years-old secrets come to light. I really can’t say more about the plot without spoiling, but I’d highly recommend reading it yourself. It was an absolute roller coaster start to finish. The characters had great depth, and it was a literal page-turner that I couldn’t put down! I’ll definitely be adding some more books by the author to my TBR. The book releases January 7, 2025 so be sure to pick up a copy in the new year!
I received an ARC copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Felt like a very basic, cookie-cutter thriller to me. I just couldn't get into it or connect with the characters. Disappointing as the blurb sounded great. I think plenty of readers will like it, but if you're looking for something fresh in the genre, look elsewhere.

I've been a fan of this author for so many years, but unfortunately, this book was just not for me. I didn't connect to or really care about any of the characters, and I had a hard time getting into the story. Some of the characters' back stories were a little confusing to me as well. It did pick up a lot around the 80% mark, and I really enjoyed the ending.

2.5 rounded up

I know I am always in for a twisty tale when reading Ms. Burke's books and this was no exception. The book ha some pacing issues and honestly I feel like we didn't get to know two of the main characters, Kelsey and Lauren, very well. I would have liked more from them. Despite all that, I couldn't put it down. I knew things wouldn't be as they seemed and I got the surprises I knew would be coming. Well crafted plot and twists. And, yes, I guessed early who it was but it wasn't obvious until well into the ending. But even thinking I knew who it was, I couldn't relax until I knew for sure!

This book was pretty decent. It wasn't quite what I expected but the twist was pretty good. Overall, I would recommend to a friend.

I won't be posting my review on this book because it didn't work for me. The cover is great and the social commentary was powerful, but the plot was extremely silly and unbelievable. The writing was good, but it didn't save the story.

pageturning and fast paced but wiht some characters i didn't either like or love to hate, just felt were meh and kinda blaze in the worst possible way. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.

The reviews for this are all over the place so it’s definitely a divisive read, but I had fun with it. Three friends reunite in the Hamptons and when you get to know these ladies you prob won’t like them. At least I didn’t lol but that doesn’t matter to me as long as there are secrets and lies. The mystery was a little silly but not predictable so overall I liked it and the narrator was engaging.

Alafair Burke is on my must-read list so I was very excited to read her new thriller/mystery. Even though the main characters were spoiled, flaky, unlikeable, the quick pacing made it hard to put down.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this ARC.

Ahhh I am not sure how to describe my feeling about this book. I didn’t love it but I didn’t hate it either. I was not impressed but not disappointed either. It didn’t really stand out? There were other books with similar story lines. Characters didn’t stand out as much. It was an OK read, but it wasn’t my most favorite because it is missing the uniqueness.

I really wanted to love this book but unfortunately, it was a major miss for me. The premise sounded amazing. Three old friends, summer camp, and a string of murders? Sign me up! Sadly, all the characters seemed so superficial and fake to me. They were all unlikable and had no redeemable qualities. I also felt like the book lacked a good amount of suspense. It was a very predictable plot line and there weren't enough twists and turns for my liking. Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy!

This one was fun! Three on-and-off best friends go on a vacation together that reveals a much darker past than any of them could ever predict. It took a few chapters, but once I got into this one, I was hooked. May, Lauren, and Kelsey all had secret pasts that were engaging to follow, and even though I couldn't stand any of their personalities, I still wanted to figure out what really happened! I couldn't put it down, but then the ending got a little weird? It definitely had a shock factor, but I wish there were more foreshadowing throughout the book - it felt a little random and unbelievable. That being said, it was still an easy and enjoyable thriller that would make for a great book club read!

The Note starts out a little slow, but the pacing does pick up and delivers some unexpected twists. I didn't care for the characters much which at times made it a little difficult to stay invested in the story. However, the web of lies and mystery plot along with increasing tension kept things interesting. If you enjoy quick reads that are page turners this is a good one for you!

Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor | Knopf for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Very good mystery/thriller/ drama! This book has a little something for everyone! Characters were well described and I could clearly picture them and the goings on while I was reading it!

Three friends from childhood. A girl's weekend of getting together, drinking and having fun. What could go wrong??? It starts with someone stealing the parking spot you have been waiting for. A guy and girl get out of the car and the girl gives you a smirky look. You decide to write a brief note on a napkin from the bar you were at saying "he's a cheater, always has been". You put it on the car windshield when no one is looking. Just a little prank! But, someone from that car ends up missing. So is this thriller of a great read. It definitely keeps you hanging with all the lies and truths that come out from a lifetime of being friends. Let me just say that Kelsey, May and Lauren sure know how to party. The note was a surprise for me since I had not read anything by Alafair Burke. It was a great surprise and I highly recommend this book that come out January 7th, 2025.
Thanks to #netgalley, #knopfpublishing and @alafair.burke for an ARC of this great read. All opinions are my own.

The Note was a slower burn mystery than I think I was expecting, so I think I my expectations were in the wrong place for this one. But if you enjoy slower paced mystery that unfurls through multiple characters, this one might be great for you!