The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

Usually I don’t consider myself great at reviewing books but there are times when I can’t get a book out of my head and I have to tell people about it and The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins is one of those books! One of my goals this year is to read a book a month and my pick for February did not disappoint! I also am very aware that I am probably late to this party but it’s better late than never! And since I am not good at giving a synopsis, I borrowed this from the author’s website:

EVERY DAY THE SAME

Rachel takes the same commuter train every morning and night. 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.

UNTIL TODAY

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 goes to the police. But is she really as unreliable as they say? Soon she is deeply entangled not only in the investigation but in the lives of everyone involved. Has she done more harm than good?

I listened to this on audiobook in my car while on my work commute and I was so engrossed in the story it made it really difficult to get out of the car to go on with my day. I would even spend extra time sitting in my car in the driveway listening to it after I got home…oh to know what the neighbors must have thought!

The suspense is great and I do love a good mystery but the character development is fantastic and is what really propels you more deeply into the story! There are times in the beginning when I didn’t know what to think about the main character Rachel. She’s a really complex character who has a fair amount of baggage that you learn about as the book goes on and it helps you understand why she is the way she is. I honestly did not care for her at the beginning of the book but as more snippets of the last two years of her life came to light I felt for her and she really began to grow on me.

I’m looking forward to watching the movie with a friend once she has had a chance to read it as well. If you’re looking for a new book to pick up I highly recommend this one!