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Book Review: The Girl on the Train

THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN by Paula Hawkins
5 Stars
Verdict: More captivating than Gone Girl (controversial, I know!)


I like characters to be a bit messed up in the head. I need them to do things I wouldn’t dare to, and get caught up in avoidable messes. This is definitely one of those books.

Rachel. Pains me to even think of her. She’s miserable, living to regret, barely getting by. She’s completely hung up on her ex even though he’s clearly no good for her or anyone for that matter. Her life has hit rock bottom in the type of way that breaks both your ankles to stop you from getting back up.

She watches a house from the train, or more specifically a young couple living a life she isn’t ready to part with, and because she’s a self-destructive meddler, she gets herself involved in their troubles. This isn’t her story, but she makes herself a part of it against her better judgement.

There seems to be a lot of Gone Girl comparison, so I’m just going to say it: both my partner and I preferred The Girl on the Train. We found it more 'readable'. Not as shocking, but interesting earlier on, and enough twists to be commended on. Maybe it's because we live next to a train station, or maybe because I'm from Oxfordshire (although I don't think the author is because there isn't a station in Whitney)? No, that's not it. We just both absorbed the book like Jack Daniels in Rachel's gut.

There is a moment towards the end which had me cringing slightly. There's a traditional villain monologue, but at that point the book had already slotted into place and it needed to end quickly. Its not the best way to end a book, but it's certainly the quickest.

Anyway, I'll be off to see the film with friends this week. I've lent it to someone and they've almost finished it too. Three whole reads in under a week - poor book's already tatty!

Source: Bought it.

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