Book Review: The Girl On The Train

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Rachel takes the same commuter train every morning. Every day she rattles down the track, flashes past a stretch of cozy suburban homes, and stops at the signal that allows her to daily watch the same couple breakfasting on their deck. She’s even started to feel like she knows them. “Jess and Jason,” she calls them. Their life—as she sees it—is perfect. Not unlike the life she recently lost.

And then she sees something shocking. It’s only a minute until the train moves on, but it’s enough. Now everything’s changed. Unable to keep it to herself, Rachel offers what she knows to the police, and becomes inextricably entwined in what happens next, as well as in the lives of everyone involved. Has she done more harm than good?

Honestly, I’m not sure if The Girl on the Train or Go Set Watchmensold more copies this year. Either way, The Girl on the Train was a runaway bestseller and I can see why.

I absolutely loved this novel. This is what I like to call “Miss Your Stop On The Train” good. I was so sucked into everything going on this novel. Told in three different women’s point of views: Rachel’s, in the present; Anna, the wife of Rachel’s ex, also in the present; and Megan (“Jess”), in the past.

Recently divorced and an alcoholic, Rachel is having a tough go at it. She’s struggling to let go of her past with her ex-husband, Tom, and gets enthralled with a couple that lives a few houses down from her former home. Referring to them as “Jess and Jason” Rachel sees them as the perfect couple she wishes she and her ex-husband could be, or rather, could’ve been.

Paula Hawkins perfectly weaves the narratives of these three women together, giving readers and air of mystery by making us wonder who to believe. Each woman has her own story of events and it’s impossible to figure out the truth until the near end. I was happily shocked once I figured it out and wasn’t disappointed by the ending at all.

At times, I will say, Rachel and the other narrators did annoy me with their whining, but I’d say the only one I really couldn’t stand was Anna and I believe she had the smallest parts so that was fine. Rachel was my favorite. Although she definitely has her faults, I couldn’t help but root for her to get better. Of course a lot of her troubles were of her own doing but not all of it was and I felt sorry for her. More than that, Rachel consistently tried to do what she believed was right and I loved her all the more for it.

I greatly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. I’m interested to see what Hawkins will come up with next.

Borrow or Buy: Buy!! So great. I’d love to give it a second read, knowing how it ends now.

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