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!

Thank you to Knopf and PRH Audio for the gifted eARC and ALC.

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the Alafair Burke books I’ve read so far, but The Note left me with mixed feelings. 3.56 stars, rounded to 4.

First, the good: this is some of AB’s finest work in terms of crafting layered, multi-dimensional characters. Our three main characters — May and her best friends, Kelsey and Lauren — have all been “canceled” in separate incidents and vilified by society. As the story unfolds, we’re given a behind-the-curtain view of their lives — their flaws, mistakes, and vulnerabilities, but also their loyalty, inclusiveness, and compassion. Like real people, these characters are messy, complex and multifaceted. Seeing them from all angles, getting to know their motivations, and understanding what makes them tick is absolutely fascinating.

Unfortunately, the mystery element didn’t match this level of depth. It’s fairly standard, without the intrigue or unexpected twists I’ve come to expect from AB’s novels. While I kept reading to see how the characters evolved, I wasn’t compelled by the mystery, and I guessed the ending before the reveal. It’s not bad per se, it’s just not the stand out read I hoped for.

Audio: I listened to part of the book on audio, courtesy of PRH Audio, and loved the narrator’s performance. She authentically captured the emotions of the characters and kept me engaged, even when the mystery didn’t.

Overall, not a knockout mystery, but still worth picking up for the well crafted charactersand their complex dynamics.

This was a decent mystery/thriller that I mostly enjoyed while reading and it kept my interest. None of the characters were very likable which wasn't particularly necessary but there were a lot of themes covered in this book in which deeper character development would likely have been helpful.

We find pandemic, social justice, cancel culture and privilege themes in this book which overall just feels a little too heavy handed at times but it also feels like we are just skimming the surface. I kind of wish she would have focused mainly on ONE of those and went a little deeper instead of trying to appease all of the culture warriors out there at the same time.

The book had a decent twist at the end but not super surprising and overall was a decent read. I'll probably forget most of it in a few weeks so just know that going in.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy

First of all I want to thank Netgalley for allowing me to read this book before publication date. Overall it was a good book.
It took longer to get into than I like. Story line kept me guessing which is a plus.

May, Lauren and Kelsey can't wait for their girl's trip away - it's been so long since they've all been together. But with time, each girl has their own secrets and these will all come spilling out when the police get involved, thanks to a prank involving a note that goes horribly wrong.

While I do prefer my thrillers a bit more fast paced, I did still enjoy this book. It took awhile to get going (the scene setting was probably longer than it needed to be) but once it did, my interest never waivered. I will admit, I was hoping for a bit more of a bang of an ending as this one seemed a little too convenient but aside from that, it was an easy and fun read.

hank you @prhaudio @aaknopf for a copy of the book.

Three friends get together for a getaway in the Hamptons and not what they bargain for. This story centers around a missing person and these ladies somehow being all tied to it.

The story was just all tied up too nicely for me with all the connections they had. At parts, the story moved slowed for me with the 3 of them bickering.

Catherine Ho did a good job portraying M

3 friends on vacation leave a note as a joke. Turns out it was real but who is lying about the man who was killed.