Friday 8 July 2016

The Girl On The Train - Paula Hawkins






I'd heard so much about The Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins, so many comparisons to it being the next Gone Girl, (one of my favourite books of all time), and I waited months and months for this on the list at my local library. 
I finally picked up my copy, and finished it within two days.
The Girl On The Train is a psychological thriller, and in my opinion, so very clever. 
Is it the next Gone Girl? 
No, but it is very enjoyable!
Rachel is the main character. She's a very heavy drinker who can't seem to get over her relationship breakdown with Tom, her now ex-husband. 
Even though Rachel lost her job months ago thanks to the alcohol, she continues to catch the same train into the city, and return home on the same train line every evening, in order to keep up the pretence to her flat-mate that she still has a job.
Every day, she passes the street where she and Tom used to live (he now resides there with his new love, Anna, and their baby daughter). On the same street, a few houses down from Tom and Anna's, Rachel often sees a couple sitting out the front of their home. They appear to be in love, and Rachel often creates stories about this couple in her head - the jobs they might have, their interests, etc, even naming them "Jess and Jason".
Without giving too much away, we learn that this couple (their real names are Megan and Scott) aren't as perfect as Rachel envisions. 
It happens one morning as she is on the train - she sees something shocking that immediately changes her perception about this couple.
She then becomes embroiled in their lives, but is that a good thing?? 
The story has three narrators - Rachel, Anna, and Megan, and the way these three character's roles interweave with each other is pieced together bit by bit as we read on in their alternating chapters.
I have to say that all of the characters in the book aren't very likeable and that did grate on my nerves more than once, but I think it did add to the emotional experience of reading this.
This book did keep me guessing right until the end, so it's definitely suspenseful. 
I would recommend this book, and would go so far as to say that it is one of my top 5 books I've read so far this year.
I'm curious to see how the movie compares to the book (the movie adaptation is due for release later this year).
If you've read it already, I'd love to hear what you thought of it.

33 comments:

  1. I quite enjoyed this. I guessed the end partway through but still liked it.

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  2. Hi Amy, thanks for your comment! As mentioned, I didn't guess the ending until the last part of the book, but a few people said they picked it earlier too.. It is a great read though!

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  3. I loved this book and it's twist at the end. It had me continuing to read well into the night to finish it.

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    1. Hi! Thanks for your comment; I too stayed up waaay past my bedtime in order to finish it :)

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  4. I struggled with the end of this book I have to admit. But I also must admit I didn't LOVE Gone Girl. I've read other twistier books.

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    1. Hi Deborah, thanks for your comment! The first half of the book was very fast-paced and did slow down towards the end, but I still really enjoyed it. Thriller books are one of my favourite genres though.

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  5. Thanks for the review. I love love love suspense, thriller, crime books. I am looking forward to reading this one now- weirdly it is one that keep scrolling past on amazon, not quite sure. It's nice to have some confirmation that it's as good as the reviews suggest.

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    1. Hi Rhiannon, thanks for your comment! I absolutely love thriller/suspense novels too! I do read quite a few of them and post my reviews quite regularly so feel free to keep an eye out on future posts. I'll also be hosting my first giveaway soon so feel free to follow my blog so you don't miss out :)

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  6. I enjoyed this too...it was a quick read. I can't remember now whether I figured out the ending or not. I think I started writing a book review on this when I finished the book, but never got around to it. Glad to have found your blog! I love books and do some reviews myself but it's always nice to find other book lovers and add to the ever-growing list!

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  7. Hi Sanch, thanks so much for your comment, and for your kind words. I'll be hosting my first giveaway soon, so feel free to follow along on Facebook etc if you like, to ensure you don't miss out :)

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  8. I haven't read this book yet, but I'm constantly looking for new books to load onto my Mum's kindle for her to read. This one sounds like something she'd enjoy, so I'll add it to hear reading list :)

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    1. Hi Lyndall, thanks for your comment. Another one I can suggest is The One Who Got Away by Caroline Overington.
      Feel free to follow my Facebook page as I'm hosting my first giveaway soon :)

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  9. I 'tried' to read both of those books but I am not into the genre I guess. Actually I read less fiction these days but more memoirs. Maybe it's my age! Denyse

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    1. Hi Denyse, thanks for your comment! I love memoirs too, but I do love my thrillers. I'm hosting a giveaway soon so feel free to follow on facebook or via email so you don't miss out :)

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  10. This book sounds great! I love a bit of suspense. I'm more of a movie person but I haven't even seen (or read) Gone Girl yet. Must get onto it!

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    1. Hi Di, thanks for your comment! It was a really good read! I actually didn't mind the movie adaptation of Gone Girl; I thought that it would be a disaster (I'm not a fan of movies based on books in general), but it's worth seeing, and definitely worth reading.

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  11. I couldn't put 'The Girl on the Train' down. I just found myself pulled into Rachel's mind and couldn't look away until the last page.

    Eagerly awaiting Hawkins' next novel...

    SSG xxx

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    1. Hi! Thanks for your comment. Yes, I totally agree with you! If you haven't read The One Who Got Away by Caroline Overington, I highly recommend it. I was thinking about the characters in that novel for days after I'd finished it!

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  12. Sounds good! Suspense is always good ... a twist is a bonus. I usually manage to pick the endings in books and movies so now that I've read everyone's comments I feel challenged to read this to see if I pick this one too!
    Thanks for joining the Lovin' Life Linky!
    L

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    1. Hi Leanne, thanks for your comment and for having me be part of the Lovin' Life Linky!
      If you read it, let me know what you think! :)

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  13. I hated Gone Girl! And was wary of this one, because of it's comparison to Gone Girl, but I enjoyed this. I figured out who dunnit towards the end, but it was still enjoyable.

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    1. Hi Cate, thanks for your comment. I love Gillian Flynn's novels, she's so dark and twisted, but her books aren't for everyone. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed this one by Paula Hawkins.

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  14. One for my reading list for sure!

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  15. I'm not a suspense or mystery reader (actually I don't read all that much these days) but this book does sound intriguing. I'm glad it went close to living up to the hype for you Michelle!

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  16. controversial opinion - I actually preferred this to Gone Girl! I picked the ending early but had fun seeing how it got to that point.

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    1. Hi Tory, thanks for your comment. It's a great read isn't it?! Feel free to follow my blog as I am hosting my first giveaway very soon

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  17. I haven't read this book as I'm sceptical about books that everyone seems to love. I must admit the comparison to Gone Girl put me off too because I really didn't like that book. Your review of it sounds interesting though, so I may be swayed to give it a go.

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    1. Hi Tegan, yes, all the comparisons to Gone Girl was off putting but I am glad that I decided to read it because it was really good. I'd love to hear if you read it. I also recommend another brilliant thriller, The Who Got Away by Caroline Overington. I loved it.

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  18. Oh my goodness, this really is the book of the moment. This is the third mention I've heard of it this week. Glad it's enjoyable I'm very tempted by it (and for which reason I just read the top and bottom of your post!) #lovinlife

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    1. Hi Stephanie, thanks so much for your comment! I try not to add any spoilers at all when posting my reviews because I don't like giving too much away. I'd love to hear from you once you've read it :)

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    2. That's good to hear, have now read it properly and I am very tempted!

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I read and appreciate every comment; thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts!