“Cross My Heart” by Megan Collins is a unique thriller murder mystery that had me hooked from the very first page! Ms. Collin’s crafted a story that is emotionally intense and mind-blowing. It begins with a young woman heart transplant patient who becomes obsessed with her donors husband. They start an email exchange without him knowing who she is, she walks her dog past his house and hangs out in his favorite coffee shop. She is aware he is a famous mystery author and her need to be loved causes her to be “too much” for most of the people in her life. This book is so packed with intrigue, deception, murders and red herrings that I had no idea what was actually going on. It is exactly what you want from a great thriller, a must read!

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book had me hooked from the first chapter. I couldn’t flip the pages fast enough to find out what happened next.

Cross My Heart follows Rosie who becomes obsessed with the husband of her heart transplant donor. It’s best to go in blind outside of that because it gets wild.

The first part of the book was pure perfection. We watch things play out from Rosie’s point of view and through Rosie’s messages with Morgan, as well as Morgan’s emails to his best friend. The first part ends with a bang and we’re thrown into the mystery aspect of the story.

The second part had me unable to put the book down too but I didn’t love the direction it took. I think it could’ve benefited from a more straight forward believable twist but it didn’t ruin the book either. This was my first Megan Collin’s books and I can’t wait to go back and read more.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

I loved everything about this book! The storyline was so different than any other thriller out there and I could not put it down! The twist had me say, “Wait, what?!” and kept me guessing till the end. Cross my heart you haven’t read anything like this!

Cross My Heart by Megan Collin
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
320 pages
Releasing: January 14th, 2025

She has his dead’s wife heart; the one she wants is his. Rosie received a heart transplant & she suspects Daphne Thorne, the wife of local celebrity author Morgan Thorne, is her donor. She begins anonymously messaging Morgan on DonorConnect, an app to connect donors and families. Rosie is convinced she & Morgan are meant to be since she has his wife’s heart. As Rosie digs deeper into Daphne’s death, she grows concerns she didn’t just die from an accident.

This book was so interesting and like no other! The plot & idea of the whole book is something i’ve never read before but I ate it up! Megan Collin’s writing style has a way of catching a reader & not letting go until the end. If you’re looking a twisty book with a wild end, check this one out in January!

Thank you @megancollinswriter @atriabooks @atriathrillers & @netgalley for an eARC for this book!

#atriabooks #atriathrillers #netgalley #arc #megancollins #thriller #suspense

This is the most creative thriller murder mystery book I have read this year. I struggle to find murder mystery books that I truly love, but this has me hooked and I are it right up. Some books I can't finish in less than 3 days, and some I finish in a few hours, and this was among the latter. It gave me strong vibes of You, except instead of Joe being the main character, it was Love. I really enjoyed the characters, as weird as Rosie was, and I thought I had the killer pinned down for sure, until I realized I didn't. I was ready to hop into my review sites and proudly flaunt I saw it coming, but damn did that killer blindside me. I greatly enjoy being able to play whodunnit and this one had me guessing until the end. I also loved how the book painted pretty much every character in a suspicious light, and made you second guess your second guesses. Hoping this'll be on the Goodreads best of 2025 list because it sure deserves it.

Cross My Heart by Megan Collins is a gripping, suspense-filled novel that kept me hooked from start to finish. With a compelling mix of mystery, psychological tension, and deep character exploration, Collins crafts a story that is as emotionally intense as it is thrilling. The protagonist, a woman torn between loyalty and the truth, is wonderfully complex, and the twists along the way are unpredictable and clever. The atmospheric writing pulls you in, making it impossible to put the book down. A must-read for fans of psychological thrillers! Highly recommend!

Cross My Heart is a dark, obsessive journey that will leave you questioning the lines between love and madness. The author expertly weaves a web of lies, deceit, and obsession, culminating in a shocking and satisfying conclusion.

I was hooked from the first page, though I did guess a few twists along the way. The pacing is relentless, and the tension builds to a fever pitch. I'm a sucker for a good obsession story, and this one definitely delivers. It's a five-star read and easily one of my favorite books by this author.

Let's talk about Rosie Lachlan. She's a sweet, kind-hearted woman who sees the world through rose-colored glasses. But beneath her gentle exterior lies a darker side, a desperate need for love and connection. When she falls for someone, she becomes completely consumed, willing to do anything to keep them.

Her obsession with Morgan Thorne, the famous author whose wife's heart she received, takes her down a dangerous path. As she delves deeper into his life, she begins to question her own sanity and the reality of the situation. The suspense is palpable, and the twists and turns will keep you guessing until the very end.

I won't spoil the ending, but let's just say it's a satisfyingly twisted conclusion. If you love a good psychological thriller, I highly recommend this book. It's a wild ride that you won't soon forget."

Riveting storyline, fast-paced plot and an endearing protagonist - what else does a great thriller need? I loved the premise of this book, a heart transplant recipient who connects with her donor’s husband and wants to believe he’s the one.

Rosie Lachlan has not had good luck in the love department, but she’s not ready to give up. When she connects anonymously with her donor’s husband, she finds him charming, funny and easy on the eyes, but something is amiss and Rosie needs the truth. Did he kill his wife? Is he really the man she thinks he is?

This is an addictive, binge-worthy thriller that will surprise you with each turn of the page. I highly recommend this 5-star book. Thank you, NetGalley and Atria Books for the eARC.

I loved this book. It kept me on my toes and everytime I thought I knew what happened I really didn't. I loved how this ended up and Rosie is someone I really rooted for in the end.

Whew! There's alot to unpack in this book! It's my first by this author, but I've already added her to my TBR list! The twists! Just wow! I haven't been this enthralled in awhile! Highly recommend.

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

This was a crazy suspenseful read! Captivated me right from the first page and kept me up way past my bedtime. How have I never read any of Megan Collins' work before? Immediately adding all of her backlist books to my TBR. Thank you, Atria Books and Netgalley, for the eARC!

a gripping tale of obsession, friendship, romance, and the ways in which utilizing donorconnect as a dating service can go deeply wrong. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

Many thanks to the publisher for my copy. However I struggled to connect with the characters, premise and overall story. A DNF at 20% for me.

Thank you to Atria & Netgalley for the ARC.

Megan Collins has become an auto read author for me. I have one more in her backlist to read.

Anyways… Cross My Heart is quite the psychological thriller. The twists, turns and small puzzle pieces are extremely well done.

I am being very careful because this would be an easy one to spoil. Just know you need to pay attention carefully to alllll the emails being sent! You’ll have a love/hate with Rosie, but in a more shake her because you’re frustrated with her. Rosie is a well written character because her personality plays well into the whole storyline!

Make sure to preorder or put this on hold on Libby asap!

Thank you so much for this ARC!

Cross My Heart was absolutely addictive, I did not want to put this down. The premise was so intriguing and oh so juicy.

First, the writing. My favorite parts were the emails - flirty banter mixed with sexy and dread. As a reader I could tell this was dangerous territory. Such a unique way to keep the pacing and to get a good look into Rosie's heart and to understand Morgan. I enjoyed learning about Daphne through her poetry, again, a beautiful type of writing. Authors writing about authors is *chefs kiss*.

Second, the twists that occur 50-58% in, OMG. I was not prepared for that but was totally obsessed.

Lastly, the ending. Those rosie colored glasses just don't give up!

Megan Collins delivers a heartfelt, thought-provoking novel with Cross My Heart, blending romance, drama, and a touch of suspense in a story that literally asks, “Do we love with our head, or with our heart?” Rosie Lachlan is a protagonist you can’t help but root for. Recovering from a life-saving heart transplant—and the heartbreak of being dumped in her wedding dress—Rosie’s journey to rebuild her life is both endearing and chaotic. She’s a hopeless romantic with a penchant for diving in headfirst, often leading to messy, heartfelt results. When she connects with Morgan, the widower of her heart donor, Daphne, through the DonorConnect site, the lines between attraction and emotional inheritance blur. Is Rosie falling for Morgan, or is Daphne’s heart guiding her emotions?

The first half of the book is electric, filled with dizzying twists and intense emotional stakes that had me hooked. The second half shifts gears, becoming more introspective as it dives deeper into Rosie’s motivations, vulnerabilities, and her quest for love and belonging. While the thriller-like momentum slows, the emotional depth grows, making it impossible not to feel connected to Rosie—even when her choices made me want to scream!

Collins masterfully balances lighthearted moments with deeper themes of identity, grief, and what it means to love fully. Rosie’s flaws make her real, and her pink hair and undying optimism give her a quirky charm that’s hard to resist. The subplot of her working in her parents’ bridal shop adds a fun, romantic backdrop to an otherwise complex emotional journey.

Although I guessed one major twist early on, another revelation completely threw me for a loop. It’s a testament to Collins’ skill that even when I thought I knew where the story was headed, I was still surprised and moved. If you’re in the mood for a book that will make you laugh, cry, and reflect on the mysteries of the human heart, this one deserves a spot on your list. Highly recommended!

“Cross My Heart” by Megan Collins is a captivating thriller that explores the complexities of love and fate. Rosie, a transplant recipient, receives a brand-new heart and becomes intrigued by its previous owner. Through DonorConnect, a website that facilitates communication between transplant recipients and their donors, Rosie discovers that she is emailing with a renowned author named Morgan. The heart belonged to his late wife, Daphne. As Rosie and Morgan exchange emails, she develops a profound connection and believes that fate has brought them together. However, her love for Morgan is tested when rumors emerge about his wife’s death, raising suspicions about the true circumstances surrounding Daphne’s passing.

This is the first novel by Megan Collins that I’ve read, and it was absolutely wild! I have to go back and read some of her previous books because this novel was incredible. It was so twisty with so many possibilities that I couldn’t put it down. As a medical professional, one of my pet peeves is novels that are inaccurate with medical details. However, this novel is spot on with everything, and it was very satisfying for me. I can’t recommend this book enough.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. “Cross My Heart” by Megan Collins will be published 1/14/25.

Wow, this book took me on such a wild ride! It’s dark, twisted, and unlike any thriller I’ve read before. Right from the start, I was hooked on the back-and-forth between Rosie and Morgan—their messages had this witty, slightly flirty vibe that made me want to keep reading late into the night.

The plot felt so fresh and unique. It’s not your typical domestic thriller, and I loved that. Every chapter ended with some kind of mini-cliffhanger. The twists were unpredictable and I was constantly second-guessing myself.

Rosie is such an interesting character. I couldn’t help but root for her, even when I wasn’t sure I could fully trust her. Her desperation to find love and her complicated emotions around her heart transplant felt so raw and real. Plus, the way the story was told—with Rosie’s perspective, the DonorConnect emails, and even excerpts from books—made it feel fast-paced and super engaging.

The ending was shocking, unsettling, yet oddly satisfying—exactly what you want from a thriller like this. Also, the Taylor Swift references? A fun bonus for fellow Swifties.

The only reason I’m not giving it five stars is that it’s a bit of a slow burn at times, and there were moments where I wanted the pace to pick up. But honestly, the build-up was worth it. If you’re looking for something unique, full of suspense, and with plenty of emotional depth, this one’s a must-read!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
I loved "Cross My Heart" by Megan Collins. It had me hooked from the first page. I didn't see this one coming. It was a gripping, addictive & fast-paced read which I highly recommend.
This my 1st book by this author & I would love to read what she decides to write next.

I have read other books by this author that i have enjoyed. This was far from my favorite I get the general idea behind the plot but feelings are not transferred with organ donations. Due to my personal belief I had hard time getting invested in this title.