Like another reader I felt this book was a little all over the place and hard to follow and just didn’t hold my interest. I felt it could have used more editing to make it more readable
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Interesting novel about a woman with a strange way of remembering.

I am giving this a five because I had to keep reading to see what was happening to Jane….and then to Mr. Byrd. It unfolds from his perspective, and then from hers, and yet it isn’t the same, even when it should be. A book of how a mind can work, while the reader wonders if it is just the way it is or if it is being manipulated. Curiosity turned those pages!

This was a very interesting book read like case notes of a therapist and the letters a woman wrote to her infant son for the future. It explores both psychological and philosophical ideas about what is reality and what do we know of the past and the future to come. It explores both the minds and the hearts of these two people,, as she undergoes some kind of psychiatric break , as well as the relationship between them. It was easy to read, despite the depth of the subject matter. I got involved right away 4.5

It’s hard to describe this book exactly, but it could most succinctly be labeled as a mystery centering on a patient and her psychiatrist. Jumping between the psychiatrist’s notes (the MMC) and the patient’s letters to her son (the FMC), the narrative follows the slow unraveling of the patient’s unknown psychological disorder. It’s fast-paced, full of foreshadowing, and surprises as well. I’ve been known to flip ahead and read the ending while I’m still at the beginning of the book, but not with this one. At the end, this book starts to shift into a sci-fi and romance direction, and I wasn’t sold on the romance aspect. Themes revolve around memory, motherhood, and the workings of the mind. Be mindful of trigger warnings if you have triggers (I don’t want to spoil them here).

This was such an interesting read. It explored all sorts of topics, and I really connected with the two main characters. I'm a new mom, so I really enjoyed the parents to young kids component. I also loved the ending. I really enjoyed her prior books too, so I was really excited to be approved for this one and it did not disappoint!

This book was propulsive - I'm not the fastest reader, yet I read this over a weekend. I was sure Jane was a fraud, and to be honest I think I would have liked this story better if she had been. The conclusion was too hasty, in my opinion, and the concept wasn't explored deeply enough to be satisfactory. All the red herrings about Jane's involvement in one death or another that went nowhere was frustrating too.

Come into this novel cold. There are twists and surprises galore, interesting psychiatric developments and a sense of discomfort, disbelief, and menace. Karen Thompson Walker has written a thriller that will make you question everyone and everything that happens. I'm being careful of spoilers, but "The Strange Case of Jane O" is a mystery like any other.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was unbelievably excited to be able to read and review the new novel by Karen Thompson Walker. I love that her books are a mix between science fiction and mystery, always with a strong human relationship aspect. The Strange Case of Jane O. was no different. It was a quick read, one that I did NOT want to put down. At first, I wasn't sure I would be as drawn in as previous books, given the clinical voice of the narrator, but it makes sense because the book is being pulled from his case notes. It was a joy to read, but I was left feel conflicted about the ending and the way it left some questions unanswered, but that's more my problem/preference than the author's. Overall, it was a wonderfully fun read, and as always, I'm left wanting more from the author. I was provided this book via NetGalley for free in exchange for my honest review. All opinions here are my own.

'In this spellbinding novel, a young mother is struck by a mysterious psychological affliction that illuminates the eerie dimensions of the human mind—and of love. A provocative literary puzzle from the New York Times bestselling author of The Age of Miracles.'

The Strange Case of Jane O. was written in such a clinical way, I can only assume it was Walker's intention for it to read like non-fiction, like a legitimate first-hand experience. That's how it felt for me anyway.

This story unfolds for us in alternating perspectives; one being Dr. Byrd, the psychiatrist treating Jane O., and the second is through Jane's letters to her son.

I started reading this yesterday, without any expectations, and found I could not stop. I couldn't and I didn't. Not until I finished last night. I just sat down and read the whole thing.

Even though this comes off very scientific and straight-forward, and maybe lacking some emotional aspect and character connection/draw we long for when reading, it was also intriguing, surprisingly gripping and wildly thought-provoking. And because of this juxtaposition, I find it difficult to articulate how well and truly sunk I was from beginning to end.

It was impossible to discern if either POV was trustworthy. At times, neither of them felt like it and for the life of me, I couldn't figure it out. I appreciate unreliable MCs/POVs WHEN they're done well. I like the pull of curiosity without feeling like I'm being dragged, and naturally, I want to be kept on my toes - neither of which is a given, obviously. But it was certainly given here. That's exactly what this book did for me.

Do I recommend? Absolutely. Especially for those who find psychiatry, diseases and disorders of the mind fascinating like I do.

In the end though, you may find yourself wondering if it was Jane's brain on fire, or if all of the bizarre occurrences we experience with both Jane and Dr. Byrd, were something else entirely....

.....but you'll have to find out for yourself........ ;)

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for this arc in exchange for review!

Pub date: 2.25.25

A story to keep you guessing. And then to make you think. Everything’s wraps up in an interesting way and there was enough questions and shifts in point of view to keep the reader engaged throughout.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A psychiatrist meets a patient who has losses of memory and hallucinations. And that is just the start of the strangeness that the title promises (and the book delivers on). Walker's writing is really compelling, drawing in the reader little by little and then asking the reader to take a leap. The payoff happens fast at the end but it's very much worth it if you've like Walker's brand of smart, fantastic explorations of connection and identity.

This novel is a little all over the place. Slow start, but picks up a bit. The vibe/mood here is very eerie, which I liked, but it didn’t really come together for me.

4.5 stars.

✨This book has been described as a literary puzzle, and I have to agree. It’s a combination of literary fiction, science fiction, suspense and so much more.

✨The puzzle pieces of the story are slowly unearthed to form the narrative, requiring the reader to challenge what they think they know about the world. In the end, the puzzle pieces fit together perfectly to reveal the full and stunning picture. But I do recommend you go into this one blind like I did. Knowing nothing upfront will really enhance your reading.

✨This is a smart, clever and thoughtful read and one I think everyone will be talking about. Exceptional!

🌿Read if you like:
✨Intellectual reads that make you think
✨Stories that challenge
✨Literary puzzles
✨Science fiction
✨Slow burn narratives
✨Rich prose

Ob. Sessed. This book was so fantastic! I have loved Karen Thompson Walker's past 2 novels, and was thrilled to nab an early copy of her latest. Obviously it did not disappoint, and I think this is her best yet. (If you haven't read the The Dreamers yet though, read that one first!) A rare literary fiction novel that has a great mystery and a satisfying, uncomplicated conclusion. I could not put this book down and read it in a day.

I almost don't want to say more because I went into this blind and it really made all the difference. Just know that it involved a woman named Jane who is hallucinating and losing time. She's practical though, and has one of those memory things where she can remember every day of her life in exact detail, so things that may derail her or make her not trust her memory are especially peculiar. Told through the view point of her therapist, and Jane herself, it's a wild ride that I know people are going to love next year!

Can I give this story 6 stars? Oh my goodness - I just finished The Strange Case of Jane O, and I am delightfully stunned by this amazing story! Psychiatrist Dr. Byrd takes on a mysterious patient, Jane, and is professionally baffled by her bizarre symptoms. Jane has suffered from hallucinations, and some blackouts, and needs help reigning in her life.

This story is written from Dr. Byrd's point of view at times, and also from letters that Jane has written to her toddler son, Caleb. I was smitten with this book from page one, and was spellbound until the last word. I took a good long while to turn the story over and over in my head after I finished, and then ultimately, a sweet tear fell down my cheek.

Highly recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review The Strange Case of Jane O.

While I know very little about psychology, I was absolutely drawn in and found The Strange Case of Jane O. truly fascinating. Her previous novel, The Dreamers, also evoked a similar what-the-hell is going on vibe that I found fantastic! This one really left me reeling with one reveal after another. I can't wait to see this book get the hype it deserves!

The novel begins from the perspective of a psychiatrist who has begun to treat the mother of a young child who is having what he’ll describe as fugue episodes as well as other unusual things. For example, Jane had a conversation with a middle-aged man who died twenty years earlier when he was in high school.

Jane then tells things from her perspective, and, initially, she also seems like a reliable narrator.

Things get more interesting as the novel progresses.

NetGalley provided an advance copy of this book, which RELEASES FEBRUARY 25, 2025.

This was one of those books where I was attracted by the cover and title, so I did have the advantage of going into it blind. It definitely adds more suspense, but trust me when I say this novel isn't lacking when it comes to suspense. If you like psychological thrillers, you will like this! It also has a huge mystery component to it that I enjoyed. I'm left with so many questions, though. Overall a great and unique read.
Thanks for the ARC!

I requested this from NetGalley based on author Angie Kim's super positive review. I thought it was a mystery, ala Sherlock Holmes, but it is a psychological mystery/thriller with a particular angle that I was not expecting and am glad I didn't know about when reading it. I purposely did not tag my review here or on goodreads with that angle so as to not ruin the surprise for other readers.

This is a story of Jane, a mother of a young child, who comes to visit psychiatrist Dr. Henry Byrd, after a disturbing personal incident that she can't remember. She claims to have met Dr. Byrd decades earlier and recalls momentos from his office at the time. Strangely, Dr. Byrd has no memory of seeing her as a patient.

The reader is exposed to more of Dr. Byrd's personal history and his developing relationship with Jane, who goes on to have more troubling situations that point to a mental health crisis which Dr. Byrd seems unable to properly diagnose or treat. The reader initially trusts Dr. Byrd, then Jane, and then isn't sure what to believe.

The book is a slow burn with an intriguing conclusion that makes you think. It is a book for people who are curious and appreciate that there is more than meets the eye in our universe. A more intellectual read vs. a classic mystery/thriller trope. There is a covid-adjacent angle which I don't love, but it supported the plot development and was fairly benign. I enjoyed it, 4-stars.

Thank you, NetGalley, and Random House, for the pre-release ARC to read and review.