Book review: The Girl on the Train

I recently finished reading this absolutely amazing book, The Girl on the Train, I am sure you have probably heard of it. The Girl on the Train is a debut, thriller novel written by Paula Hawkins. This is a very hard book to review without revealing any spoilers but I will try my best, I promise I won’t give anything important anyway.

One thing you should know before reading this book is you need to be prepared to let the housework pile up, your other hobbies to be ignored and your other half to be pretty much neglected for the time it takes you to read it. You will not be able to put it down and that, my friends, is a fact.

The Girl on the Train is a novel told through the voice of several different characters but the story predominantly belongs to Rachel, an unhappy divorcee, who is a borderline alcoholic. Rachel travels to work on the same train every single day and to add a bit of interest to her otherwise boring commute, she makes up stories about a couple she sees regularly from the window. The couple live in a house down by the train tracks. A house just doors down from the one that Rachel once shared with her husband Tom.

Rachel has named the couple Jess and Jason and she fantasies about their perfect life together. Jason a loving, protective husband and Jess a happy, beautiful wife. In Rachel’s mind they are the perfect couple, the definition of true love. They have the type of marriage she wishes she could have had.

One day Rachel’s fantasy of the couple is shattered when she spies something out of the window of the train. What she sees may seem irrelevant to anyone else aboard the 8.04 to London, but to Rachel it changes everything. Bad things start to happen, we learn more about the real people behind Rachel’s daydream, perhaps Jess and Jason are not as perfect as they may seem from the other side of a window? Perhaps Rachel has had more to do with recent, horrific events than she even realises herself? The reader is not the only one left wondering what is going on as, thanks to her drink problem, Rachel regularly blacks out, bits of the night before just disappear from her memory, sometimes lost forever.

The chapters switch between characters and by the end it is difficult to decide which narrative to trust. Hawkins makes sure you don’t figure anything out too early and she is very good at building suspense and leaving you hanging for pages on end, desperate to know what happens next. Sometimes the end of the book can be a bit disappointing, especially if you figure out the secrets the author wants to keep as a surprise before the big reveal. However, just when I thought I had figured  everything out, Hawkins spun the plot around and suddenly the story was running off, full speed in a different direction, one that I never saw coming.

If you are looking for an exciting, really well written page turner then you need to read The Girl on the Train. The voyeurism , complex characters and thrilling plot make this an absolute must for your book shelf. Make sure you read it before the film comes out too.

Have you read The Girl on the Train? What did you think? Have you got any good book recommendations for me? I would love to know your thoughts.

A Cornish Mum
My Kid Doesn't Poop Rainbows
My Random Musings
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16 Comments

  1. Rachel Bustin
    January 22, 2016 / 10:05 am

    I have heard of this book but have yet to read it. Looks like my type of book! xx

    #PicknMix

  2. January 22, 2016 / 12:48 pm

    Reeead it! Haha, it is really good, if you like thrillers then you'll love it.xx

  3. Sally Loving Life
    January 22, 2016 / 2:18 pm

    I keep hearing about this book, but am yet to read it. I'm pretty sure my friend has a copy so I shall ask to borrow it. I love a book that you just can't put it down. Fabulous.

    Sally @ Life Loving
    #PickNMix

  4. January 22, 2016 / 3:44 pm

    Oh you should borrow it, it's definitely worth a read xx

  5. January 23, 2016 / 10:23 pm

    This sounds like a really good read. I haven't picked up a book for a while (thanks to blogging) but this sounds worth it! #

  6. January 25, 2016 / 1:23 pm

    I've heard lots of good things about this but still haven't got 'round to it… (so many books, so little time!) #anythinggoes

  7. January 25, 2016 / 2:49 pm

    It is so worth it. I know, I used to read loads before I started blogging, it is really hard to find the time. If you read this though you will manage to find the time, somehow!xx

  8. January 25, 2016 / 2:50 pm

    I can totally relate to that, the days just aren't long enough to do everything we want/need to are they?xx

  9. jennifer smith
    January 25, 2016 / 3:59 pm

    I'm sure this is the book my sister told me her friend recommended she should read just last week. I knew nothing about the book but it sounds brilliant from what you have said, it's definitely on my list now!
    Jenny @ Jenny on a Plate
    #anythinggoes

  10. A Cornish Mum Blog
    January 26, 2016 / 10:59 am

    I haven't read this one but now really want to! Going to have to dig out my poor neglected kindle 😉 Thanks for linking up to #Picknmix
    Stevie x

  11. January 27, 2016 / 3:24 am

    This sounds brilliant! I love books that twist and turn and keep you guessing. Definitely one to go on my to read list 🙂 #abitofeverything
    Debbie

  12. Mama, My Kid Doesn't Poop Rainbows
    January 27, 2016 / 6:26 am

    Oooh, I'm always on the look out for a new book. I shall add this one to the list- thanks!

    #fartglitter

  13. February 2, 2016 / 9:51 pm

    Yay, let me know if you enjoy reading it 🙂 xx

  14. February 2, 2016 / 9:52 pm

    Yes, get searching for your kindle Stevie. You won't regret it 🙂 xx

  15. February 2, 2016 / 9:53 pm

    If you are anything like me you will be guessing all the way through this book xx

  16. February 2, 2016 / 9:53 pm

    You're welcome. Happy reading xx