The Girl on the Train

 “The Girl on the Train” was a book I was really excited to dive into, but it ended up being a bit of a mixed bag for me. The premise sounded intriguing—peering into the lives of strangers from the vantage point of a train window. It's a setting ripe for mystery and suspense, and the author does set up a compelling scenario. I mean atleast in theory.
However, as I got deeper into the story, I found myself losing some of that initial enthusiasm. The characters felt flat, and I struggled to connect with them. The protagonist, Rachel, had a lot of potential as an unreliable narrator, but her constant state of intoxication and the circular pattern of her thoughts made the narrative drag. And not in the way that can be interesting at times.
The plot had its moments of tension, but overall, the pacing felt uneven. There were parts where the story really picked up and I was exited to see what happened next, but then it would slow down with repetitive reflection or way less fun side plots. The twists were decent, though not as surprising as I'd hoped—they felt a bit too ... rehearsed and planned out. It does not feel like the characters doing an action but rather the author deciding they will do this.
In the end, “The Girl on the Train” wasn't quite the thrill ride I was expecting. It had some interesting elements and a strong setup, but it didn't quite deliver on the suspense or character depth I was looking for. It's a decent read if you're into psychological thrillers, but for me, it just missed the mark. So for me it is a sad 2.5 read.