Book Review Blurb: The New Girl by Harriet Walker

I liked this one, especially in the beginning, although found it a bit draggy by the end and things happy-ended way more than I anticipated/expected/enjoyed…

I really liked the way Walker set up the tension between the two women. It was a lifestyle battle (moms vs. singletons) that hit all the insecurity buttons on both sides in a way that felt authentic and resonated with me as someone who came to motherhood at 40 so actually lived both lives. But the drama felt like it got unnecessarily repetitive and started feeling forced as the author struggled to keep ramping things up page after page.

I think if the story had stayed focused on the woman v. woman drama, the book would have been a more enjoyable read for me, but the incorporation of the cyber-stalker bit (and its subsequent unveiling) took things way over the edge for me. It felt like the book wanted to be “Hitchcockian” as the blurb suggested, and the forced throw-you-for-a-loop bits were where the book lost its authentic feel and started getting a little over-the-top for me. Plus it all ended rather tidily, which felt a bit unlikely given the heavy build up to the revelations.

It was still an enjoyable read but I felt like it would have had a more powerful impact if the focus had not strayed into thriller territory and instead focused more solidly on the Margot/Maggie conflict.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.