Claire is still on an emotional high after a perfect anniversary dinner with her too-good-to-be-true fiance ,Noah, when she decides to surprise him with a takeout lunch at work. To her dismay, the receptionist tells Claire that Noah doesn't work there anymore, and in fact, has not worked there in months. When Claire texts Noah to ask what's going on, he doesn't answer her texts and ignores her calls.

With Sukhi, her best friend from work, Claire takes a closer look at Noah, discovering he hasn't been as forthright as she believed. He has another girlfriend, the incredibly gorgeous Lilah with a seemingly perfect life in a wealthy neighborhood. As Claire mourns the life she thought she had, she realizes she is beginning to drink too much, like her emotionally and physically abusive mother did.

The dual timeline and unreliable narrator will keep the reader turning pages, eager to find out what happens with Claire and Noah. While other reviewers claim to have guessed the ending, I'm not as clever and was riveted by this psychological suspense novel. #ClaireDarling #NetGalley

SPOILERS AHEAD!

It was entertaining to live vicariously through the MC, when her fiancé mysteriously ghosts her and her actions afterward. I wish there was more buildup to her relationship with Noah because I had to draw on my experiences with exes to justify feelings and relating to her when their relationship seemed surface level… but in hindsight, that also makes sense. One moment that nagged at me was when the MC went to confront the girlfriend at her home and she invited her in, saying the situation was hard to explain, etc. If she knew that the MC was a stalker, why invite her in to begin with and have a civil conversation if this person clearly posed a threat? Some plot holes that left me wondering, but an entertaining, quick read.

This was an intense read with some relatable context that snowballed into a nightmarish obsession, it was very fast paced and intense.

2.5 Stars

I think the bones of this book are great; however, some of the execution needed work. Claire, Darling reminds me a lot of the French movie [ He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not (hide spoiler)]. I could guess the main twist pretty early on but it was still enjoyable to read.

Claire is engaged to Noah, a seemingly perfect fiancé, until one day he stops answering her calls and is with a new girlfriend. Confused and enraged, Claire is determined to figure out what happened, but things begin to go off the rails the more she tries to find the truth.

We get a lot of flashbacks to Claire’s childhood, which I felt unnecessary as they didn’t really further the plot and could have been summed up in less than a chapter. I also wished the trial would have been more accurate to a real trial, as it felt informal and like a TV scene with the lawyers just yelling objections with no law as to why and shocking revelations which the defense would have known ahead of time. (Also, at one point the prosecutes rolled his eyes?!)

Overall, I enjoyed the much of the story as it was a quick and entertaining read.

I received an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. It was very good in that it kept my interest and I did breeze through it, but I was disappointed to have called the ending very early on in the story.

Claire, Darling by Callie Kazumi is a captivating and emotionally resonant novel that explores themes of memory, identity, and the complexities of family dynamics. With its vivid writing and intriguing premise, Kazumi crafts a story that balances mystery with introspection, keeping readers engaged while also offering moments of deep emotional reflection.

The novel centers around Claire, a woman at a crossroads in her life, who begins to unravel the mysteries of her past as she confronts both her own memories and those of her family. Set against the backdrop of her family’s estate, the novel delves into themes of inheritance, loss, and the complexities of familial relationships. As Claire’s story unfolds, Kazumi reveals layers of emotional depth, inviting readers to reflect on their own connections to home, memory, and identity.

One of the novel's strengths is Kazumi’s ability to create rich, nuanced characters. Claire, in particular, is a protagonist who feels deeply real and relatable—her struggles with reconciling her past with her present are compelling, and her journey of self-discovery is handled with emotional authenticity. The supporting characters, too, are well-drawn and add complexity to the story.

The pacing of Claire, Darling is steady, though at times the narrative can feel a bit slow as the story takes its time to build toward its revelations. Some readers may find the plot's meandering nature occasionally distracting, but for others, this will only add to the contemplative tone of the book. Kazumi’s prose is beautiful and descriptive, allowing readers to fully immerse themselves in the setting, but it can sometimes lean toward the poetic, making the story feel a bit introspective at times.

The mystery element of the novel is also intriguing, and while some plot twists may be predictable, the way Kazumi reveals them feels satisfying. The culmination of the story’s emotional and narrative threads offers a resolution that feels earned and meaningful, even if it leaves a few lingering questions about the nature of memory and family.

In conclusion, Claire, Darling is a beautifully written and thought-provoking novel that captures the complexity of family relationships, the passage of time, and the ways in which we confront our past. Callie Kazumi’s thoughtful exploration of these themes, combined with her engaging writing, makes this a novel worth reading for fans of literary fiction that explores memory, identity, and emotional depth.

&& that ladies & gentlemen is how you do a debut novel ! 👏👏👏👏👏

This book completely hooked me & even though I kinda knew where this was going I still couldn't put it down . 🤯
This is why I don't talk to people. One small seemingly innocent interaction turns into a nightmare... 😐

I'm gonna leave my review at that cause I don't want to spoil this great read for anyone
I will add I love the layout of this book .. makes it very easy & quick to get through & also completely keeps you invested.

Thank you #NetGalley for another amazing arc . #ClaireDarling 🖤

Claire goes to drop off lunch at her fiancé Noah's work as a surprise for their anniversary. The surprise turns out to be for her, however, because when she gets there she is told he hasn't worked there in months. She tries calling & texting him, but he is ghosting her. She spirals, not knowing why he is doing this. Claire's best friend from work discovers a Facebook profile of his that shows him with another woman, living an entirely different life. He always told Claire he hated social media and had no social media accounts. She searches for his profile, but can't find it, because he has blocked her. Sukhi comes over and they go to the club that he was tagged as being at. She throws her engagement ring at him and storms out. Later, though, she has regrets.. Desperate to speak to Noah and convince him to return to their dream life, Claire plunges into a nightmarish journey of obsession that submerges her deeper into the murky waters of her own past—a past dominated by a manipulative mother who shattered her sense of self.

This book was really good. It is told in different parts: her life growing up with a domineering & abusive mother, the court proceedings, and then present day, as well as journal entries scattered all throughout that detail the story of her life with Noah among other things. I had no idea if Claire was an unreliable narrator or if Noah was a liar & a cheat, or if there was a middle ground somewhere between the two. All I knew for certain was that it was a fast paced, riveting train wreck that I could not put down. It was soap opera worthy. There was one final twist at the end that wrapped the book up perfectly. This is perfect for fans of Cross My Heart by Megan Collins and Single White Female by John Lutz. I highly recommend it!

2⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for an advanced copy of Claire, Darling.

Claire had a very difficult childhood with her single mother who abused her and was a narcissist. She thinks she has found the perfect man in her fiancé Noah. One day when she surprises him with lunch at work she finds out he has not worked there in months and then he starts ghosting her. She tracks him down and finds out he has another life without her. She is dead set on revenge.

This book was so predictable I was able to see everything coming. I do not feel like the plot was very unique and the female and make main characters were so untrustworthy and unlikable.

OMG - I love the concept for this book! Thhis psychological thriller is just what i needed. The idea that a woman obsessed will do anything in the name of love. The book just galloped along at a very fast pace and i will add I found a few parts creepy - but in a good way. If you like this type of thriller- it's awesome.

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A solid debut 👏🏻. This book was such a ride, right from the start & with that I will say I found the story it dip about 50 pages in but I had to figure out why Claire got ghosted! Then part 2 hit and 💥 and the ending… I did not see it coming. I liked Claire from the start and I was cheering for her but also found that I couldn’t trust her. This one is a great quick read thriller.

I love an unhinged thriller and Claire, Darling hit the spot. It was fast paced and engrossing, I read it in 3 sessions cause it was hard to put down. I was able to predict some of the plot twists but it didn't hinder my enjoyment of the story. My heart ached for Claire up until the very end of the book. The story is told through Claire and a series of diary entries and flashbacks starting with her 1 year anniversary with her fiancée Noah. The twists and turns are fun and I felt all of Claire's rage, sadness and confusion throughout the book. This is a very well done story for a debut and I look forward to seeing what else Callie has in store for future books!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Claire was raised in a dysfunctional home by an alcoholic and narcissistic mother. Imagine her excitement at meeting Noah, a normal guy and hoping life would improve. But when she pops into his office for a surprise visit, she finds out he no longer works there. Claire starts to put the pieces together and realizes he has been living a double life, which she is now caught up in.

This is a well written psychological thriller that is fast paced and has likable characters. The flashbacks really helped me understand Claire and her behavior. Such a great read!!!

What a tripy novel. I could not put it down as I had to find out the truth. Was Claire being gas lighted or was she truly an unreliable narrator.? The last page was the best! Way to go out with a bang. Glad i accepted the publishers invite on this one. Really good debut

A really solid debut! The main character gives unreliable narrator vibes right off the bat. You know something is up from her creepily exuberant diary entries about her fiancé--and from the fact that she grew up with a horrible, abusive, narcissistic mother. You start to suspect what's going on with our Claire fairly quickly, but that doesn't detract from the plot, and there are plenty of twists and turns to keep you reading to the end. I think fans of Lisa Jewell might like this one!

Thanks so much to Random House and NetGalley for my review copy! This one is out March 11.

This was a quick read and fast paced thriller. I think it's best if you go into this blind. I knew where the story is going pretty early on, but that didn't take away from the enjoyment at all! With a mix of flash backs of Claire's childhood and current events, the author created a well moving story that has a good balance between a character and story driven plot. The ending, however, was very unrealistic.

I really enjoyed this book and especially enjoined the twist at the very end. I was surprised that the second part of the book was a trial, but I actually liked learning all the evidence with the narrator. I was hoping that there would be a twist with the mother storyline but overall it was a fun read.

This was a fun, quick read. While it was incredibly obvious to me what was going on from the start, it was like a train wreck I couldn't look away from. The pacing and the length were perfect for what this was. Was it mind-blowing? No. But it hooked me and kept me reading because I just needed to see the end.

Thank you to Netgalley, Randon House Bantam, and the author for the e-arc to review.

This one spiraled in the best way! It takes a turn shortly into the book that I did not expect but made the psychological spiral way more interesting.

Between Claire’s childhood trauma and her fiancé turning her world upside down, she is the perfect desperate character. I wanted so badly to shake her and tell her she deserved better.

I did like the ending, but the final few pages didn’t shock me like I was hoping. It left a small few pieces without closure in my mind.

Overall, a great thriller! As the truth about Noah starts to emerge and Claire is realizing she has been deceived, I had a hard time putting it down.

This was a decent suspense, but I found it to be quite predictable. That being said, I did like the characters, they were developed well and it was an easy read. It's a good book, it just didn't knock my socks off.

Thank you to Net Galley and Random House Publishing for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.