I am a sucker for a good thriller and Shari Lapema is consistently solid so I was excited when I had the opportunity to read the #arc of her newest book (comes out Jul 29).

Bryden lives a blessed life with her husband Sam and 3 yo daughter Clara in Albany NY. One day, Sam gets a call that Bryden didn’t show up to get their daughter from daycare. He arrives home and she is nowhere to be found - but her laptop and phone are in the condo. What happened to Bryden and who is responsible?? It was a smidge predictable- Lapena sets is up so that there are plenty of possible suspects. I figured it out before the end, but I thoroughly enjoyed the ride.

This is a fast read - good for all mystery / thriller lovers - perfect for fans of Freida McFadden or Lisa Jewell.

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

I've been a big fan of Shari Lapena's work in the past, but her last couple of books lost me a bit. This won me back! Fast paced, inventive. A great thriller.

Frida and Gabriel are siblings in the sense that they both grew up together in the same cult. Twenty years later they’re free from it and on a luxury resort vacation when a woman is found dead. Gabriel was talking to her, but couldn’t have anything to do with it….right?

I liked this one! It’s hard to compare with The Quiet Tenant because that one to me was a heart-pounding thriller while Our Last Resort was more of a slow burn mystery. I really liked all the chapters set in the past in the cult, more than the present day storyline. I’ll still read anything this author puts out in the future.

Thank you NetGalley and Knopf for the free digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I read this while I was on vacation in Paris and looked forward to getting into bed to dig back into it each night, which speaks volumes for how engaging it was! I always love how unfrivolous (is that a word?) Lapena's writing is -- she gets right in there, tells a twisty, disturbing story, blows your mind a few times, and gets out with zero nonsense. I think I liked this one even more than What Have You Done (which I risked reading on a Kindle in a pool on another vacation). I have several of her books in my queue, waiting for my next trip because her books are always perfect travel reads! Existing Lapena fans will love this, and new readers are in for a treat!

It’s always the husband, right? When Bryden doesn’t pick her daughter up from daycare and seemingly goes missing all signs point to her husband Sam. But everyone claims they had a rock solid marriage and were very happy. So where is she? She wouldn’t just walk out and leave her purse, phone and most importantly, her daughter. Not everything is as it seems. Secrets will be revealed.

Lapena always spins the best stories out of the most simple premises. This is no different. Missing woman. Who did it? So many suspects. So much finger pointing. Never who you think might be guilty,

Another good one by Shari Lapena. I had it narrowed down to two suspects and I was correct in my guesses but still a good read. 4/5 🌟

Twisty and suspenseful! If you've enjoyed Lapena's previous works, you won't be disappointed. I read this in 24 hours!

She Didn't See It Coming is an absolute page-turner from start to finish. Shari Lapena once again proves herself a master of suspense, delivering a tightly woven plot full of twists and turns that kept me guessing right up to the final pages. Just when I thought I had things figured out, the story would veer in another direction—each surprise more thrilling than the last.

The pacing was perfect, the characters were compelling, and the tension was relentless. I loved every aspect of this book and couldn't put it down. I’ll be recommending it to everyone I know who enjoys a smart, gripping thriller. Another masterpiece by Shari Lapena!

SHE DIDN’T SEE IT COMING is another reason why Shari Lapena remains as one of my all time favorite thriller authors! The QUEEN of domestic thrillers is back with another banger of a read! I read this in one day and easily could have read it in one sitting if I’d had the time. I was hooked in from the very beginning as always and it kept me intrigued and guessing throughout. I thought I had it all figured out but in true Lapena fashion I totally did not! It was full of twists and turns that will keep you engrossed and on your toes. As always, another easy 5 star read for me and I can’t wait to see what’s next from Ms. Lapena! Absolutely pick up a copy of this one or preorder now, you will not be disappointed!

Thank you so much to Pamela Dorman books and NetGalley for the early digital copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance ecopy of this title. Bryden and her husband live a very nice life in a Condo outside of Albany, NY. Bryden mysteriously disappears on a day she is working from home. Where is she? When her body is found in the cellar of the complex, the suspect list contains a man she had a car accident with, her husband, her sister, a neighbor with a previous run in with the law, and her best friend. In the course of the story, there are two additional mysteries that unfold around the car accident man and the neighbor. Lots of twists and turns, suspenseful, but not scary. Recommend!

When Bryden goes missing, she leaves no trace. After the police are called, it seems like everyone in her life might have a motive. Is it the husband? The sister? The best friend? Or the guy down the hall with a dubious past? The story had twists and turns and was an enjoyable read.

I have read a couple of this author’s books and this one was right up there on top, had me guessing at each page. I really enjoyed the turns and spins this book had that kept your interest in it. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC #ShariLapena #SheDidntSeeItComing #NetGalley

Oh. My. Gosh. The secrets on top of twists on top of madness! This book was truly a long, twisty road of suspense to an ending that I did not see coming. A quick read because I absolutely had to know what I missed and what was going to happen because I had my own theories blown up page after page. All the stars!

When a woman goes missing after working from home all day, no one is spared from scrutiny. Told from many perspectives, everyone has their say. Fans of domestic expense might enjoy this.

Do you love: Twists? Suspense? Red Herrings? Then you are going to love She Didn’t See It Coming by Shari Lapena. First of all, I have to say I am partial to this author, and I have enjoyed everything I have read by her (though I still have a few more to go).

This was a suspenseful, domestic soap opera book about a missing person’s case, and I loved every minute of it. Through short chapters and different character scenes, Lapena creates a fast-paced domestic thriller full of secrets and twists. A page-turner that keeps you guessing what happened to Bryden, who you can trust, and that everything is not what it seems.

Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Viking Penguin for the ARC.
Expected Publication Date: July 29, 2025

#SheDidntSeeItComing #NetGalley

Thanks to Viking Penguin and Shari Lapena for the chance to read ‘She Didn't See It Coming’! This was my first book by this author and I liked the writing style. It was very to the point and felt like I was reading a procedural drama (Law & Order). I guessed some of the twists but was still deciding on the 'who' to the end, which is always fun.

Hard to find a Lapena book that I don’t like and this still holds true. The cast of characters was thoughtful and relevant. The story was interesting from the start. Why not 5 stars? I guess it wasn’t perfect but it was close so i’d say 4.5. And I did love the ending. Great read.

Shari LaLapenawithout a doubt, is the undisputed queen of the domestic thriller. She has found her rhythm, her niche, and it has worked out exquisitely for both her and her readers. This was a fun, twisty read full of red herrings and people who have many dark secrets. It starts with Bryden's car accident seven weeks before her disappearance, where she exchanges information with the man who was driving the car Bryden hit. Was he her kidnapper/killer? Or what about her secretive sister, who seems to relish the attention she's getting online, posting details about her sister's disappearance? If mot her, how about Sam, Bryden's seemingly perfect husband- who might be a monster behind closed doors? Or Paige, Bryden's supposed best friend? Obviously, there is no shortage of suspects, and my theory of the killer changed several times before I finally guessed correctly. There are also a couple sub-plots that I found to be interesting, and was grateful for their inclusion, as sometimes books get repetitive if there is only the one central mystery to focus on. I ran through this book in two days, and was a little sad that I didn't take longer to read it. In my experience, Lapena is one of those authors who can do no (or very little) wrong. Definitely a must read book from a must read author, and I'll be recommending this to anyone and everyone, even though by now her books typically sell themselves.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of She Didn't See it Coming.

I used to read the author's books regularly but stopped when the narratives became predictable and difficult to suspend disbelief in.

But I liked the premise and was pleased my request was approved. I wasn't sure it would be.

There are many tropes you can shake a stick at in this:

1. Everyone is attractive and handsome; the victim and her husband's attractiveness is often mentioned over and over

2. Plenty of red herrings with potential shady characters and relatives

3. Too many POVs which only served to add confusion and as filler to up the word count. I soon forgot who was who and what their relationship to the victim was

4. The writing style was dry, like a textbook style.

5. No character development so readers have no idea what type of marriage the main characters have, why they got married, where they met, etc.

6. Lots of bad men and women doing bad things; no one is likable but at the same time you don't know enough about the victim to care about her

7. The identity of the perp is anti-climatic partly because the reason for the murder is another cliche.

8. Lack of suspense and drama partly due to the style of writing and how many suspects there are and the secrets they're all hiding.

I'm glad I gave the author another chance. At least I can say I did that.

A murder mystery with so many potential killers that I was furiously turning the pages to get to the end. The pace was fast moving and the story kept me engaged.