Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for my ARC.

Claire, Darling well done. You certainly took me by surprise. I thought I had you figured out about three quarters of the way through but then I wasn't so sure because of course there was a surprise twist thrown at me.
For those of you who haven't yet met the Darling Claire, I suggest you introduce yourself on the date of her release, March 11, 2025 and let her tell you her story. It's quite captivating. There were parts of it where my heart just broke for her, the stories she tells of her mom and Noah, that conniving boyfriend of hers, I mean, Claire Darling, let him go! Thankfully she has her friend Sukhi on her side and that ending, oh my!
Claire, Darling is full of surprises, it takes you to her youth, to her meeting Noah, to murder, to trial to a shocking ending. I look forward to seeing more from this author in the future!

Claire’s fiancé Noah suddenly ghosts her after a year of dating. She’s heartbroken and desperate to know why.
She starts stalking him to find out. Secrets are revealed and Claire’s troubled past comes to light. This was a great debut novel by this author and I hope to read more.
Thanks NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for this eARC that will be released March 11, 2025!

This smart suspense novel had me hooked from the premise. This is a page turner with realistic character development, and we are pulling for the protagonist every step of the way. Ghosting / secret life stories can be so gripping, and this one really delivers. I liked how Claire unraveled even as I cringed for her and wanted her to pull herself together. The drama at times can be a bit much (whereas I prefer a more realistic story) but I am sure this novel will be a big success, and rightfully so.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-galley; all opinions in my review are 100% my own.

I was completely captivated by Claire, Darling! From the moment Claire decided to surprise her fiancé with a workday lunch, I was hooked on her story. Her excitement quickly turned into a rollercoaster of emotions when she discovered Noah's double life. Claire's unreliable narration had me questioning every detail and kept me eagerly turning the pages to uncover the truth. As Claire delves deeper into the mystery of Noah's lies, I couldn't help but feel a mix of sympathy and frustration for her. Her obsession and the way it leads her into the murky waters of her own past added so much depth to the story. I really appreciated how the author portrayed Claire's struggle with her past, especially her relationship with her manipulative mother. It made her character feel so real and relatable. The twists and turns kept me guessing, and I loved the suspenseful atmosphere that was maintained throughout the book, and I couldn’t believe the ending.

Overall, Claire's Revelation is a thrilling and emotionally charged read that I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys a good psychological drama. Claire's character is both fascinating and relatable, making her the perfect unreliable narrator to drive this gripping story.

While I feel like the start of this book was really strong, I feel like the narrative kind of lost itself towards the middle and unfortunately didn't have enough time to pick itself up before the ending of the story. Overall, it was a 3.5 star read for me, but I didn't think it was anything too special sadly, as this book had an amazing premise.

A good debut. I love a psychological thriller and this was well written. I can't believe that mother!!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Claire, Darling reeled me in from page one and never let go. What starts as a simple case of ghosting turns into a full-blown psychological spiral, and honestly? I was here for the chaos. Claire is not your typical scorned woman—she’s obsessive, unraveling, and carrying a whole lot of baggage from her past. Watching her descent was like witnessing a slow-motion car crash—you know it won’t end well, but you can’t look away.

The writing is sharp, the tension is chef’s kiss, and the unreliable narration keeps you second-guessing everything. My only gripe? A few moments felt a little too over-the-top, but honestly, that just added to the wild ride. I just wish there had been even more crazy and darkness, especially like that epilogue—I wanted the whole book to lean into that level of unhinged! If you love your thrillers dark, psychological, and just a little bit messy, this one’s for you!

First, I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.
This is one of the best debut novels I've read in a very long time. The author writes with a confident and easy style.
Claire, Darling is a great physiological thriller that pulls you in and doesn't let go!
Claire has put her dreadful childhood behind and is living a wonderful life with her fiance Noah. She has a new job she loves, along with a new friend from work.
All seems to be going in her favor until she decides to surprise her fiance at work for lunch, only to find out things aren't what they seem.
This catapults her into a nightmare she may never recover from. You have to read the book to know why. Now that I've got your curiosity aroused,stop reading my review and get the book. You will not regret it. I happily await the next book from Callie Kazumi!

I was so happy to be granted the opportunity to read this advance copy of the author's debut book! I was so ready for something different and full of suspense. Relationships can be so very complicated, so I needed to know how Claire was going to handle being ghosted by Noah. I liked how this went from current writing to Claire's childhood, and then to her diary entry.

I really felt for Claire's childhood, as many of us grow up experiencing some kind of trauma. I kind of expected some of what was happening to happen, but I was really happy that Claire had a friend in Sukhi- but I think I spelled her name incorrectly. Overall, this is a great debut book that was hard to put down.

This book was really slow to start and hard to get into. The twists were great but I felt like it dragged on to long overall.

This is how you write a debut novel! Disturbing, unhinged characters, plenty of twists, and a fantastic ending! I will definitely recommend this book. Claire Darling I can hear the voice in my head—if you know, you know! #ClaireDarling #NetGalley

Mommy Dearest is the first thing that comes to mind w this story. It wasn’t a bad attempt at a narcissistic parent raising an abused child, especially for a first attempt. I totally called the ending super early which is fine, but I would have liked a few surprises getting there. Again, a pretty solid first novel that I wouldn’t give accolades to a seasoned author. Let’s see what else you’ve got Callie :)

"Claire, Darling" is a fast and gripping psychological thriller. I read some heavy books the past few weeks and haven't really felt like reading. I was looking for something fun to get me out of my reading slump, and this book did the trick. What a wild ride from start to finish! This is one of those books that will totally mess with your mind and have you trusting absolutely no one. It is a bingeworthy, unputdownable book. Be sure to clear your schedules so you can read it in one sitting. Some of it was a little predictable, but overall it was an enjoyable and memorable read. I certainly never saw that ending coming! I am highly impressed by Callie Kazumi's debut novel, and I look forward to reading her future works.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Claire, Darling starts off a bit slow, but by the second half, it becomes absolutely addictive. The pacing picks up, and I found myself completely drawn in. The main character, Claire, is incredibly unhinged, which adds an intriguing layer to the story, keeping me on edge throughout. The ending was unexpected and satisfying, leaving a lasting impact. While the beginning may take its time, the book ultimately becomes a compelling read that’s hard to put down.

3 stars--I liked the book.

A quick read, with lots of suspense that kept me turning pages. Some good character work too.

[Spoilers in this sentence!] One trope I'm getting tired of: the "bad guy' is mental illness. But aside from that annoyance, this was an entertaining read.

I received this review copy from the publisher on NetGalley. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review; I appreciate it!

Absolutely loved this and finished in less than 24hours. What a GREAT debut! Would make a fabulous movie. Especially loved the court scenes in the last third of the book. Bravo.

Thank you so much to Ballantine for the ARC!

This one was a such an easy and quick read! I didn't want to put it down!

I loved the concept of Claire being ghosted and I loved all the various POVs from the different characters.

The ending was a little expected, but I still think it was well done and made me feel SO many emotions about Claire and her life!

I think this one will be a hit with thriller lovers!

This novel is a mesmerizing deep dive into the complexities of love, betrayal, and identity. The story starts with a shocking revelation. Claire, eager to surprise her fiance Noah, discovers he never really existed in the way she thought. What follows is a harrowing unraveling of truth and obsession that keeps the reader on edge until the last page.

The author masterfully weaves Claire's unraveling present with the shadows of her traumatic past, crafting a protagonist who is as sympathetic as she is unsettling. Her desperate search for answers is a psychological thriller and a deeply personal journey of self-discovery. The tension builds with precision, making every chapter more intense than the last.

With haunting prose and unexpected twists, this book explores how the ghosts of our past can shape and sometimes distort our perception of reality. It is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers that blend suspense with emotional depth.

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A storyline that goes back and forth between times Claire has spent with her mother growing up and her current day life with fiancé Noah. This book was an easy, quick read….with an easy to follow storyline. There is sadness, hope, deceit, and surprises in this book. Thanks to. Netgalley for the opportunity to read this.

ARC review • pub date 03.11.25

This is an incredible debut and definitely a page turner!

Claire is out of the blue ghosted by her fiancé, Noah, and is absolutely determined to find out why so she begins following him and retracing his steps to get to the bottom of it.

Written with flashbacks to a troublesome childhood, to diary entries of her relationship with Noah, to present day trying to figure out why her relationship has failed.. it is utterly gripping and you can easily read this in one or two sittings!

As someone who reads a ton of thrillers, none of the twists really fooled me. However, it was a great book and I will absolutely recommend it. I thought it was great!

4⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley, Random House/Ballantine/Bantam books for my ARC!