2.5 rounded up. The premise of this book really intrigued me. The main character, though, did not. She was much too obviously immature to hold any interest for me, and the mother was over-the-top unbelievable. That said, my curiosity propelled me to finish the book, and there were some good parts. However, I wish the ending had paid off. It was just wrapped up too neatly. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

good mystery about claire and her fiance. She works in town and goes to find his work and finds out that he doesn't work there. she along with her friend try to find him and where he really works. She could be stalking him or he is cheating on her . Good mystery and she has some serious issues. Loved the letters. she also has some serious mom issues.

Book: Claire, Darling
Author: Callie Kazumi
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine
Pub Date: March 11, 2025

Go ahead and add this book to your TBR. I was pleasantly surprised with this book and while I do think it’s a little predictable she did a great job with her debut novel. This story is the epitome of a psychological thriller. You know from the beginning you’re dealing with an unreliable narrator - the twists are great and very well planned. The author makes you feel uncomfortable which means she has successfully done her job.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine and NetGalley for this sneak peak! Publication date is March 11, 2025.

This was a wild ride. I flip flopped back on forth between two theories on what had been going on. I leaned heavily more on one than the other and that was what ended up being right. However, with just so many highs and lows going on between these pages, guessing what the end may be takes away nothing. Plus that epilogue. I definitely gasped.

The parts dealing with her memories with her mother were hard to read at times. The abuse mentally and physically was just hard to handle. You really feel for Claire, even after that epilogue.

Claire has had an unfortunate childhood. She was raised by an abusive mother, and now she is taking care of her. Claire meets a wonderful guy, and they become engaged. She decides to surprise him and bring him lunch to his office. She is informed that he has not worked at the place for months. She then calls him many times, but he never picks up. After a few days, she realizes that she has been ghosted. Claire and her friend from work do some detective work and find that her dream guy is engaged to someone else. And that's when the fun begins.

I really enjoyed this one! I love novels that exist solely from the protagonist's POV and you never really know what's being left out. I hope the right audience finds this book - a dark, layered character study of the trauma parents can inflict. Also everyone needs a friend like Sukhi! She was amazing.

I do worry those looking for a twisty mystery will leave low reviews. That's NOT what this is. Seasoned readers will know what's going on fairly early but that's not a bad thing. The journey is the reward here.

I will say (without spoilers) there was one comment made by a character in defense of Claire during the second half of the book that I thought was indicative of where the plot was going but then was never brought up again. A bit confused on that one note.

Oh, this one is incredible! I loved the story which included the crazy ending, I am still shocked by it! Claire had a sad life, not a very good relationship with her mom. She didn't really have any close friends. She meets Noah and is sudden, totally "in love." She takes lunch to his office one day and discovers he does not work there. He won't return her calls or messages. Claire later discovers his secret life with Lilah, they even live together.

Claire ask her close friend at work named Sukhi, to help her with social media and look into Noah's current life. The writing and the characters in this book are everything! Some shocking things happened as the true life of Noah begins to unfold.

I keep thinking about the way the book ended, which will stay with me for awhile.

Absolutely Shocking, Fast Paced, and Jaw Dropping!

5 Stars! I loved this book!

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy. This book will be released 3/11/25.

A great debut thriller! After surviving a dysfunctional upbringing with an unreliable abusive mother, Claire is living her best life. She has a job she loves, a good work friend and she has found the man of her dreams! Noah is her everything! Then the edges start to unravel. Noah doesn’t come home. Claire panics! Great characters, a tight plot, a good (although somewhat obvious) twist and a creepy, satisfying ending! A quick read, perfect for fans of Ruth Ware.

4 stars-I read this book in just one sitting because I could not turn the pages fast enough. It stars with Claire and her fiancé happily in love, life is going perfectly for the couple. So why did he just ghost her one day when she brings him lunch? To add to the mystery and the tension, there are flashbacks of Claire as a child and with her mother, who always called her Claire, Darling. This is exactly what an unreliable narrator story should be! The twists were top notch, just when you think you know, you don’t know at all! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!

Claire, Darling is a gripping debut that kept me on the edge of my seat! 😲 After an unexpected breakup, Claire’s quest for answers spirals into a psychological nightmare that explores obsession and self-discovery.

What starts as a simple anniversary surprise quickly unravels when Claire learns that her fiancé, Noah, has ghosted her and moved on to a new life without her. The shock and betrayal hit hard, and Claire’s desperate need for closure leads her down a dark path, forcing her to confront her troubled past and a manipulative mother who has haunted her for years. 😟

Kazumi expertly weaves tension and emotion throughout the narrative, making it impossible to put down. Claire's struggle to reclaim her identity amid the chaos is both harrowing and relatable. As she delves deeper into her obsession with Noah, the stakes rise, and the line between love and madness blurs.

This psychological thriller is a must-read for fans of suspenseful stories that explore the complexities of relationships and the shadows of the past. A stunning start for Callie Kazumi! 📚✨

Thank you NetGalley for giving me an early copy in exchange for an honest review!

This book…the description had me so excited, and then it had the added spice of an unreliable narrator and I was ready. Unfortunately, the gripping plot and unique narration felt smothered by the endless repetitive descriptions and inner dialogue. At first I was feeling it, and wanting to know how it was all going to play, but about halfway through I had guessed the plot twist, as I’m sure most will, and I was just ready to get there.

It’s getting two stars because of the well written unreliable narrator and the fun plot. But unfortunately, it mostly dragged by in my eyes and left me thinking “why was this written?”

Bonkers! Hooked right from the beginning and truly loved this one - couldn't put it down. Great for thriller fans, fast paced and just a fun ride.

Single sitting read – !!!! – and it was giving me full body cringe because of how uncomfortable I felt in some scenes. I never put anything together, so I was actually shocked as the story unfolded. Further commentary to come closer to pub date – I'll definitely be recommending this for a creepy read that keeps you engaged.

Ummm, okay…this was one of those books where literally the entire time I am like what is happening?!?! Where is this going?!?!? Why is everything so messed up? 😂 Every single chapter intrigued me! I was so sure I knew the twist but then things also had me second guessing so that just made this book that more enjoyable! A fantastic psychological thriller! If you need something to get you out of a reading slump, read it asap!

Callie Kashmir hits all the marks in this superbly written novel.of psychological terror tht had me absolutely riveted from page one.
Claire is happily planning her wedding to the love of her life, Noah, until one day when he disappears out of her life, with no warning and no contact. Her calls go to voice mail and when she goes to his office, she finds he is no longer working there.
Absolutely baffling, intriguing and spellbinding mystery that will keep you flipping the pages non
stop.
Great character definitions and storyline that moves right along.
Just a really good read.

Naturally Disturbing.

Claire, Darling is a disturbing, psychological thriller/mystery. Told from Claire's point of view, Claire, Darling is a mix of past journal entries, flashbacks, present day adventures, and future consequences. Little by little the truth is revealed until reality catches up and bringing Claire the shock of her life.

This book is addictive, twisty, and…disturbing. When the outcome is revealed, it was as expected but no less shocking. I thought about Claire more often than not, falling asleep thinking about all of the possibilities, asking myself if Claire was indeed an unreliable narrator or if Noah, her fiancé, was unfaithful and guilty of ghosting his fiancé for another.

The characters felt real. Their strengths and flaws notable. Each believable when it was their turn to tell their sides to Claire and Noah’s story. This is where “naturally disturbing” comes to play, as that is the best way I can describe the plot. The slow reveal felt natural, as if I was witnessing the unfolding of a developing breaking news segment.

I loved the flashbacks to Claire’s time with her mother. They were heartbreaking and often left me feeling sorry for Claire – which in and of itself was hard to do, all things considered.

If it wasn’t already clear, I loved Claire, Darling. I want this in movie/show form. I want a physical copy. I want a collector’s edition. I want an audiobook with a full cast. I want it all! Kudos to Callie Kazumi on her fantastic debut. Cannot way to read more books from this author.

I truly love thrillers, and one of my favorite parts is seeing if I can figure out the twist before it is revealed. While I was able to figure out the twist before it was revealed, I was still gripped. This leans into the psychological aspect of a thriller, which always makes for a fun read. At some points, I got really annoyed with Claire, but once the major twist was revealed, it made sense why I thought Claire could be annoying. This would be a great book club, or beach trip read (if you're a thriller girlie!)

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned...and heaven forbid said woman also is unhinged and unravels very quickly. This was not quite what i expected from the blurb, but that's not a bad thing. It was still a very enjoyable, guilty pleasure read and a quite interesting take on the subject.

Claire, Darling is not a book for me but I’m sure others will enjoy it. It was an extremely slow read for me and I had it all figured out quite early.

While it had a slow start and it took me a while to finish, I am really glad I did! I felt that I was right there with Claire through the highs and lows. And I did not see that ending coming!