Sarina Bowen absolutely delivers in Dying to Meet You! This thriller had me hooked from the very first page, keeping me on the edge of my seat. Just when I thought I had things figured out, the story took another sharp turn, leaving me breathless and frantically flipping pages.

The characters were layered and compelling, especially Rowan, I loved her relationship with her daughter. Bowen’s signature storytelling shines here, seamlessly blending tension, emotion, and just the right amount of psychological depth. The eerie atmosphere and intricate plot kept my heart racing until the final, shocking reveal.

If you love thrillers that keep you guessing, Dying to Meet You is an absolute must-read. Highly recommend!

I received an ARC of this book and voluntarily give my honest review

I loved the five year lie so much so when I saw this on here I just had to request it!

This is one of those books where I didn’t care for the main character but still adored the book. I know she was destined to be a mess but man she really was a lot!

It was predictable, but I don’t care. It was still very suspenseful and very engaging and I really appreciated that when it’s predictable and boring that’s not a good thing. It can be predictable so long as it’s fast paced and engaging.

I definitely recommend this one and will be looking forward to her next book! I love a good domestic thriller

i’m the biggest fan of sarina’s romance books so i was really excited when she ventured into thrillers. i haven’t read the five year lie yet so this was my intro to her thrillers & she didn’t disappoint! i’m a sucker for a mystery & this was such a good one!

there was murder, secrets, family drama, and more!! i can’t wait to see what else sarina does with this genre now that she’s on her second book

Sarina Bowen has penned an intriguing thriller taking the reader on a twisted journey. The story takes place in Maine and tells the story of a wealthy family, The Wincott’s, and some hidden secrets from the past.
Rowen is an architect hired to lead a project on a restoration of a Wincott mansion that was once a home for Wayward girls. Many secrets are uncovered as a murder sets the story off. There are many twists and turns as the police investigate and Rowen’s life is turned upside down.
I enjoyed this new thriller and did not guess the culprit at the center of the mystery until late in the story. The story kept me thinking and trying to uncover the whodunnit just as the characters were.
I think the author did a good job plotting out the backstory and weaving a tale with little clues as the story progressed. Another great book from Sarina Bowen.

I LOVED The Five Year Lie and couldn't wait to get my hands on this. Dying to Meet You is the second thriller book written by Bowen. I'm glad she made the switch from the romance genre to thriller as she's easily become one of my favorites. The beginning starts off a little slow, but then the plot really takes off. I was super invested in what happened to Rowan's ex-boyfriend. There is a lot of depth to the plot and I enjoyed trying to figure out the mystery. I'm definitely hoping for more thrillers from Bowen!

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks | Harper Paperbacks for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Harper Perennial, NetGalley, and the author for my ARC.

Sarina Bowen's Dying to Meet You is a slow-burn thriller that centers around Rowan Gallagher, a recently dumped architect and single mother. Still reeling from the breakup, she tracks her ex’s whereabouts through an app. One night, she decides to visit the mansion she’s working on for a renovation project, where she discovers her ex’s body in his car—making her the prime suspect in his murder.

The novel takes its time to build tension, but unfortunately, the ending feels abrupt, and none of the twists were particularly shocking, which left me feeling underwhelmed. Rowan is a relatable character, but the plot didn’t quite hit the mark for me in terms of suspense and emotional depth. While it wasn’t a standout read, I think fans of slower-paced thrillers with a mix of mystery and character-driven storytelling might still find it enjoyable.

3 ⭐️

4⭐️

Rowan is a single mother to her daughter Natalie, and she was recently hired as a full-time architect to help restore a local mansion. She meets a gentleman named Tim, and they hit it off and go on out on a few dates. Or at least, she thought they hit it off until Tim cancels a date last minute and goes completely silent. But Rowan isn’t quite ready to let him go, and has been checking his phones location to see if it’s because he’s dating someone new. Except when she went for a walk down the street to see who his new girlfriend was that he was driving around with, she ended up finding his dead body……right in front of the mansion that she works at.

I am normally not a thriller reader, but this one kept me on my toes and I could not stop reading!

THANK YOU!!! to Sarina, her team, happer Collins, and NetGalley for this arc!

I really enjoyed this book! Sarina Bowen is a great thriiller writer. After reading The Five Year Lie, I wanted to check out her next release and it did not disappoint!

Loved that this book took place in my home state Maine and I was instantly hooked from the beginning! I hope the author continues writing so I can read more of her work!

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

I'm happy to say I enjoyed this as much as The Five Year Lie. It's not often that I like a favorite author's new genre but that's not the case here. Sabrina Bowen writes mystery just as well as she does romance. There wasn't as much suspense here as I was expecting, although the mansion did evoke a creepy setting. I loved the growing relationship between Natalie and Harrison. I wasn't thrilled with Rowan at first and the story was a bit slow in the beginning which are the only reasons this doesn't get 5 stars. I did guess the who and why of the mystery but that didn't stop me from enjoying the fast pace of the second half and wanting to see if I was correct. Will definitely be recommending this one.

Absolutely yes. Dying to meet you is one of my top reads so far this year and it will be hard to beat.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for an advanced copy to honestly review.

Sarina Bowen delivers a gripping blend of suspense, romance, and psychological intrigue in Dying to Meet You, a thriller that hooks readers from the very first page. With a strong, relatable protagonist and a plot filled with unexpected twists, this novel is a fast-paced, unputdownable read.

Rowan Gallagher is a talented architect and devoted single mother trying to move on from a painful breakup. But when a moment of curiosity leads her to witness her ex’s murder, she’s suddenly thrust into a nightmare—one where she’s not only the primary suspect but also the target of a sinister plot. Bowen masterfully builds tension as Rowan uncovers shocking truths about the man she thought she knew and the dangerous forces closing in around her.

What makes Dying to Meet You stand out is its perfect balance of suspense and emotional depth. Rowan is a compelling lead—intelligent, flawed, and fiercely determined. Her struggle to clear her name while protecting her child and unearthing dark secrets keeps the stakes high. The novel’s twists are cleverly woven, keeping readers guessing until the very end.

For fans of smart thrillers with well-developed characters, Dying to Meet You is a must-read. Bowen’s sharp writing, immersive storytelling, and thrilling plot make this a suspenseful and satisfying ride.

Rowan is a architect working on restoring a mansion for a wealthy client. The mansion was formally a home for unwed mothers. She is a single mom of 16 year old Natalie, whose father has been out of the picture after going to prison for assault. She was recently dumped by text by Tim, who she finds murdered in his car in front of the mansion she's working on.
The story is told from alternating POVs- Rowan, Natalie and Coralie, which worked very well. I liked the mystery of the Coralie POV, and how her story came together at the end.
The pacing was perfect. I liked how the story unfolded with Rowan working to uncover the secrets of the mansion. I did not guess the killer, and was surprised by the twists.
Overall, this was a very good thriller. Above expectations for me. I loved the author's previous thriller- The Five Year Lie. After reading Dying to Meet You, she is an auto-buy author for me!
Thank you to Harper Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

ARC review • pub date 05.13.25

I thought the book was … okay. I didn’t love it or hate it. It was a reallllllly slow build up to a very abrupt ending. None of the twists were shocking to me, either, which is a bummer when reading a thriller.

Rowan has recently been dumped suddenly, but she still tracks his whereabouts on an app. One night she decides to take a walk over to where he is, which happens to be the mansion she’s the architect on the renovation job. But when she gets there and passes by his car, she finds him dead— and soon becomes a major person of interest.

3 ⭐️

It wasn’t a favorite of mine, but I wouldn’t discourage the read.

Thanks to Harper Perennial and NetGalley for my ARC

What a fantastic story! This book with it's well-developed characters and it multiple POV's had me hooked from the very beginning. Rowan, an architect and single mom, has just been dumped by her boyfriend. She's sad and confused, and, unfortunately, she's the one who finds him...dead! And that's just the beginning. This story is filled with twists and turns, characters you hate and ones you can't help loving, and just the right amount of suspense to keep you guessing what happened and why. I enjoyed the plot, the pace, and of course how the mystery was solved. But, I must also admit that my heart was happy to see that little bit of romance. This is the second suspense/thriller from Ms. Bowen and I must say that, at this point, it appears that there's nothing this writer can't do and do well. I'm looking forward to more of her romance books and, of course, more of her suspense stories as well!

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper, and Sarina Bowen for an advance copy of Dying to Meet You in exchange for an honest review.
I was thrilled to be sent a copy of this one as The Five Year Lie was one of my favorite books last year!!! And boy oh boy, Bowen didn’t disappoint. This is another fast read that is filled with twists, turns, and lies. The ending was not what I was expecting and I definitely guessed the villain incorrectly.
I will be now reading anything this author touches & you should too! This one is out on May 15, 2025!

I had a lot of fun reading this one! This is my second book from this author, Last year's The Five-Year Lie was the first. I actually enjoyed this one even more! Rowan is dumped via text message, so she does a bit f "light" cyber-staking to try and figure out what's up with him. She gets way more than she bargained for, as he turns up shot. The characterization is great I loved Rowan. She is a single mom with a good job, she is restoring a historic old mansion, and most of her decisions made sense to me. Her daughter Natalie also has a POV, and I liked hearing from her too. The setting is Maine, one of my favorite settings and the story is not too heavy on the romance. This is a perfect Summer/by the pool or beach read.

Thank you to #NetGalley, Sarina Bowen and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks | Harper Paperbacks for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I will post my review to Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Instagram and other retail and social media sites upon publication day of May 13, 2025.

Rowan has recently been dumped, via text no less! She doesn’t understand why so she decides to stalk her ex using an app. By seeing what places he goes to she tries to judge if he’s dating another woman. When she sees that he is at a location they would usually frequent together she decides to go check it out. What she finds is not at all what she was expecting. What follows is enough to turn her world on its axis. There’s a very powerful and wealthy family in town with a closet full of skeletons and they would like to keep them there. With some close to Rowan who may be a part of those secrets, she begins to question who she can trust.

Dying To Meet You is an entertaining page turner delivering enough twists to keep you on the edge of your seat and racing to the finish line. Sarina Bowen is an author to keep your eye on. If you haven’t already read Bowen’s last book, The Five Year Lie, I highly recommend it. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun, twisty thriller with enough subplot to keep me thoroughly entertained. Loved that it was told from several different perspectives.

Synopsis

Rowan is an architect and single mom to teenage daughter Natalie and is currently working to restore an old mansion for a wealthy family in Portland, Maine. Rowan just went through a breakup with recent love interest ( and investigative journalist) Tim Kovak, which goes from bad to worse when she finds him shot to death in front of her workplace, a few days after their breakup. Rowan is a suspect in the murder case and is adamant she has no idea what happened to Tim and starts doing some investigating of her own to try to find out what happened him. Things quickly become even more complicated when Natalie’s dad gets out of prison and arrives on the scene.

What I loved :

The main character Rowan, I found her smart, funny, and loved her desire to delve into all the secrets this book has to offer!
I loved watching Rowan, and her daughter Natalie's relationship develop and grow throughout the book.
The relationship of Harrison & Rowan was so sweet, and I am glad they got a second chance after all they had been through.

This book was full of twists & turns. As all the secrets start to unravel it completely drew me in and I couldn’t put it down.
I have read all of Sarina Bowen’s thrillers and loved them all, but I think this one is definitely a favorite.

Thank you to Netgalley, and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for providing me with an e-arc in return for my honest review.