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Dying to Meet You
The acclaimed USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author returns with a twisty thriller that probes how well we actually know the men in our lives.
Rowan Gallagher is a devoted single mother and a talented architect with a high-profile commission restoring an historic mansion for the most powerful family in Maine. But inside, she’s a mess. She knows that stalking her ex’s avatar all over Portland on her phone isn't the healthiest way to heal from their breakup. But she’s out of ice cream and she's sick of romcoms.
Watching his every move is both fascinating and infuriating. He's dining out while she's wallowing on the couch. The last straw comes when he parks in their favorite spot on the waterfront. In a weak moment, she leashes the dog and sets off to see who else is in his car.
Instead of catching her ex in a kiss, Rowan becomes the first witness to his murder—and the primary suspect.
But Rowan isn’t the only one keeping secrets. As she digs for the truth, she discovers the dead man was stalking her too, gathering intimate details about her job and her past.
Struggling to clear her name, Rowan finds herself spiraling into the shadowy plot that killed him.
Will she be the next to die?
Rowan Gallagher is a devoted single mother and a talented architect with a high-profile commission restoring an historic mansion for the most powerful family in Maine. But inside, she’s a mess. She knows that stalking her ex’s avatar all over Portland on her phone isn't the healthiest way to heal from their breakup. But she’s out of ice cream and she's sick of romcoms.
Watching his every move is both fascinating and infuriating. He's dining out while she's wallowing on the couch. The last straw comes when he parks in their favorite spot on the waterfront. In a weak moment, she leashes the dog and sets off to see who else is in his car.
Instead of catching her ex in a kiss, Rowan becomes the first witness to his murder—and the primary suspect.
But Rowan isn’t the only one keeping secrets. As she digs for the truth, she discovers the dead man was stalking her too, gathering intimate details about her job and her past.
Struggling to clear her name, Rowan finds herself spiraling into the shadowy plot that killed him.
Will she be the next to die?
357 pages, Hardcover
First published May 13, 2025
434 people are currently reading
40637 people want to read
About the author
Sarina Bowen
105 books19k followers
Sarina Bowen is the 24-time USA Today bestselling and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary fiction, including: The Five Year Lie, the True North series, and the Brooklyn Hockey series. She's the co-author of Him/Us and the WAGs series with Elle Kennedy. And more!
You can find a complete reading order list of Sarina's books on her website. Or see what's coming next from Sarina, and sign up for her newsletter so you don't miss a new book or a deal.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 873 reviews
May 31, 2025
With an atmospheric setting, ratcheting pace, and plenty of complex characters, Dying to Meet You was a worthy follow-up to Sarina Bowen’s debut thriller, The Five Year Lie. This time around, she didn’t miss a step as the multiple POVs delivered a believable premise full of intrigue and scandal. From the wealthy people behaving badly to the intricate web of secrets and lies, this cast of characters knew how to kick up the gossip. Throw in the Wincott mansion with its sordid history and a haunting ghost on the periphery, and I was pulled into this winding story from the very first word. Was it somewhat of a slow burn in the beginning? Well, yes… But that simply gave the fully fleshed out personas time to wiggle their way into my subconscious.
Speaking of those characters, they were easily the special sauce to this addictive tale of domestic suspense. Finely layered, nuanced, and realistically flawed, they became more and more true-to-life with each additional page. Natalie and Rowan in particular were two of my favorites. Bringing to life an authentic mother-daughter dynamic, Natalie’s teenage behavior was on full display. With genuine dialogue that could’ve come from my own childhood, I not only grew attached to the duo but found myself rooting for them from the very beginning. The rest of the cast was equally well-written and left me side-eying the bulk of them as I hadn’t a clue who I could trust. After all, there were plenty of suspicious individuals who had my spidey-senses tingling.
All said and done, Ms. Bowen pulled off quite the feat with her newest novel. A quick, easy read that had me unable to put the book down, I finished it in one single sitting despite the late hour. You see, the palpable tension seemed to pulsate just below the surface all while a series of ground-shifting twists kept me off balance. And while the climax might’ve been just a hair abrupt all things considered, it’s delicious over-the-top vibe left the perfect taste in my mouth by the end. Paired with a soul-satisfying finale, Bowen managed to gift me with a Cheshire-like smile by the time I flipped the last page. Twisty, unguessable, and complete with a second-chance romance thrown in for good measure, this dynamite novel was yet another home run. Rating of 4.5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Rowan Gallagher is a devoted single mother and a talented architect with a high-profile commission restoring an historic mansion for the most powerful family in Maine. But inside, she’s a mess. She knows that stalking her ex’s avatar all over Portland on her phone isn't the healthiest way to heal from their breakup. But she’s out of ice cream and she's sick of romcoms.
Watching his every move is both fascinating and infuriating. He's dining out while she's wallowing on the couch. The last straw comes when he parks in their favorite spot on the waterfront. In a weak moment, she leashes the dog and sets off to see who else is in his car. Instead of catching her ex in a kiss, Rowan becomes the first witness to his murder—and the primary suspect.
But Rowan isn’t the only one keeping secrets. As she digs for the truth, she discovers the dead man was stalking her too, gathering intimate details about her job and her past.
Struggling to clear her name, Rowan finds herself spiraling into the shadowy plot that killed him.
Will she be the next to die?
Thank you to Sarina Bowen and Harper Perennial for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: May 13, 2025
Content warning: teen pregnancy, adoption, violence, mention of: gun violence
Speaking of those characters, they were easily the special sauce to this addictive tale of domestic suspense. Finely layered, nuanced, and realistically flawed, they became more and more true-to-life with each additional page. Natalie and Rowan in particular were two of my favorites. Bringing to life an authentic mother-daughter dynamic, Natalie’s teenage behavior was on full display. With genuine dialogue that could’ve come from my own childhood, I not only grew attached to the duo but found myself rooting for them from the very beginning. The rest of the cast was equally well-written and left me side-eying the bulk of them as I hadn’t a clue who I could trust. After all, there were plenty of suspicious individuals who had my spidey-senses tingling.
All said and done, Ms. Bowen pulled off quite the feat with her newest novel. A quick, easy read that had me unable to put the book down, I finished it in one single sitting despite the late hour. You see, the palpable tension seemed to pulsate just below the surface all while a series of ground-shifting twists kept me off balance. And while the climax might’ve been just a hair abrupt all things considered, it’s delicious over-the-top vibe left the perfect taste in my mouth by the end. Paired with a soul-satisfying finale, Bowen managed to gift me with a Cheshire-like smile by the time I flipped the last page. Twisty, unguessable, and complete with a second-chance romance thrown in for good measure, this dynamite novel was yet another home run. Rating of 4.5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Rowan Gallagher is a devoted single mother and a talented architect with a high-profile commission restoring an historic mansion for the most powerful family in Maine. But inside, she’s a mess. She knows that stalking her ex’s avatar all over Portland on her phone isn't the healthiest way to heal from their breakup. But she’s out of ice cream and she's sick of romcoms.
Watching his every move is both fascinating and infuriating. He's dining out while she's wallowing on the couch. The last straw comes when he parks in their favorite spot on the waterfront. In a weak moment, she leashes the dog and sets off to see who else is in his car. Instead of catching her ex in a kiss, Rowan becomes the first witness to his murder—and the primary suspect.
But Rowan isn’t the only one keeping secrets. As she digs for the truth, she discovers the dead man was stalking her too, gathering intimate details about her job and her past.
Struggling to clear her name, Rowan finds herself spiraling into the shadowy plot that killed him.
Will she be the next to die?
Thank you to Sarina Bowen and Harper Perennial for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: May 13, 2025
Content warning: teen pregnancy, adoption, violence, mention of: gun violence
June 9, 2025
4.5 stars
Everyone knows that Sarina Bowen is great at writing a romance, but apparently she is as good at writing a mystery. I really enjoyed her debut mystery/thriller, The Five Year Lie, and I enjoyed this one even more.
I love that she writes well-developed characters whose relationships and conversations feel authentic and believable. Reading about Rowan, her relationship with her daughter and some other characters felt like reading about real people. I really liked her as the main character.
The mystery part was done well. There were things that surprised me and there were some things that I suspected a bit. The pacing is on the slower side, the reveals come at the right moment and I feel the author does it in a subtle way. Like everything is just there, waiting to be revealed. There are no senseless twists for the shock value. I appreciate that.
There is also
The audiobook made the experience even better. All three narrators are excellent.
Everyone knows that Sarina Bowen is great at writing a romance, but apparently she is as good at writing a mystery. I really enjoyed her debut mystery/thriller, The Five Year Lie, and I enjoyed this one even more.
I love that she writes well-developed characters whose relationships and conversations feel authentic and believable. Reading about Rowan, her relationship with her daughter and some other characters felt like reading about real people. I really liked her as the main character.
The mystery part was done well. There were things that surprised me and there were some things that I suspected a bit. The pacing is on the slower side, the reveals come at the right moment and I feel the author does it in a subtle way. Like everything is just there, waiting to be revealed. There are no senseless twists for the shock value. I appreciate that.
There is also
The audiobook made the experience even better. All three narrators are excellent.
March 5, 2025
I have this pet peeve- when the title of a mystery/thriller has nothing to do with the book at all. Stop doing that! It’s lazy!
This is about a 3.25/5– there is a lot to like about it.
Synopsis- Rowen is a single mom to Natalie, a teenager. Natalie’s dad is out of the picture after going to prison years ago. She was sad when her new beau, Tim, dumped her out of the blue. She felt a bit bad still following his location on Find My Friends. When she decided to figure out what he was doing at her work, she was shocked to see he had just been killed. She has to figure out who did it before she is accused herself.
Multi-POV with Natalie, who wants to get to know her long lost dad.
Coralie- a young secretary who is being taken advantage of by her millionaire boss who comes from old money. We don’t know what time period she is in until the end.
What I liked- the setting of an old mansion in Portland, Maine
Natalie and Rowen’s mom/daughter relationship
An easy villain to hate (rich guy who feels entitled to sexual assault)
A surprising ending
Good, believe dialogue
What I didn’t
Pacing in the middle was slow
Some of the minor characters did not have a lot of character building and they were a bit flat
A few interesting plot points that went nowhere
Overall, I liked this but didn’t love it. Would I read another book by the author? Yes definitely.
This is about a 3.25/5– there is a lot to like about it.
Synopsis- Rowen is a single mom to Natalie, a teenager. Natalie’s dad is out of the picture after going to prison years ago. She was sad when her new beau, Tim, dumped her out of the blue. She felt a bit bad still following his location on Find My Friends. When she decided to figure out what he was doing at her work, she was shocked to see he had just been killed. She has to figure out who did it before she is accused herself.
Multi-POV with Natalie, who wants to get to know her long lost dad.
Coralie- a young secretary who is being taken advantage of by her millionaire boss who comes from old money. We don’t know what time period she is in until the end.
What I liked- the setting of an old mansion in Portland, Maine
Natalie and Rowen’s mom/daughter relationship
An easy villain to hate (rich guy who feels entitled to sexual assault)
A surprising ending
Good, believe dialogue
What I didn’t
Pacing in the middle was slow
Some of the minor characters did not have a lot of character building and they were a bit flat
A few interesting plot points that went nowhere
Overall, I liked this but didn’t love it. Would I read another book by the author? Yes definitely.
June 24, 2025
4⭐
Genre ~ domestic thriller
Setting ~ Maine
Publication date ~ May 13, 2025
Publisher ~ Harper
Est Page Count ~ 370 (68 chapters)
Audio length ~ 12 hours 33 minutes
Narrators ~ Kathleen Early, Caitlin Kelly, Sarah Mollo-Christensen
POV ~ 1st & 3rd
Featuring ~ murder, sexual harassment and assault
Rowan is an architect restoring an old mansion. How fun! But maybe not so when weird things start happening. Then she finds her ex-boyfriend murdered in the parking lot and we're off to find out what secrets this historic house holds, and what lengths some will go to in order to find out.
Coralie tells her story of being a secretary for a man that likes to take advantage of young women. Sleezy McSleezerpants. Her part is the slowest burn of them all.
Told in 3rd ~ Natalie (16) is Rowan's daughter and her father, Harrison, is in prison. Now he's out and wants to redeem himself. I was rooting for him because he wasn't bad at all. Ugh, though, I hate when the teens think they know what's best and be sneaky, bugs me so much. Although, she was a pretty good kid despite that.
Overall, this was really engaging and I was totally invested in seeing what would happen. There were some nice suspenseful moments that kept me listening into the night.
Side note ~ (I'll be vague without spoiling) I found it clever how the person that was in jeopardy at the end was located. I passed the info along to my college bound kid to try to always have hers.
Narration notes:
Thrilled there were 3. They all did a great job.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ X
Genre ~ domestic thriller
Setting ~ Maine
Publication date ~ May 13, 2025
Publisher ~ Harper
Est Page Count ~ 370 (68 chapters)
Audio length ~ 12 hours 33 minutes
Narrators ~ Kathleen Early, Caitlin Kelly, Sarah Mollo-Christensen
POV ~ 1st & 3rd
Featuring ~ murder, sexual harassment and assault
Rowan is an architect restoring an old mansion. How fun! But maybe not so when weird things start happening. Then she finds her ex-boyfriend murdered in the parking lot and we're off to find out what secrets this historic house holds, and what lengths some will go to in order to find out.
Coralie tells her story of being a secretary for a man that likes to take advantage of young women. Sleezy McSleezerpants. Her part is the slowest burn of them all.
Told in 3rd ~ Natalie (16) is Rowan's daughter and her father, Harrison, is in prison. Now he's out and wants to redeem himself. I was rooting for him because he wasn't bad at all. Ugh, though, I hate when the teens think they know what's best and be sneaky, bugs me so much. Although, she was a pretty good kid despite that.
Overall, this was really engaging and I was totally invested in seeing what would happen. There were some nice suspenseful moments that kept me listening into the night.
Side note ~ (I'll be vague without spoiling) I found it clever how the person that was in jeopardy at the end was located. I passed the info along to my college bound kid to try to always have hers.
Narration notes:
Thrilled there were 3. They all did a great job.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ X
June 6, 2025
the setup…
Rowan Gallagher is an architect and single mother with a 16-year old daughter, Natalie. She lives in Portland, Maine and is working on a two-year contract to restore an historic mansion for the influential Wincott family. She loves the project but her personal life just hit the skids. The man she’s been dating suddenly and inexplicably dumped her. But! He’s forgotten to turn off his location tracker and Rowan can’t resist taking a peek every now and then. However…a few nights later, she sees he’s parked in front of the mansion, a spot they used to use. Rowan decides to takes her dog Lickie for a walk and perhaps stroll by that spot. Unfortunately, what she finds isn’t a new girlfriend but a dead ex-boyfriend.
the heart of the story…
Even though Rowan was traumatized and called the police, she still manages to stay on their suspect list. Things get even more complicated when her ex and daughter’s father shows back up in town and lands on that list, too. I really liked Rowan and even though she sometimes made some curious choices, she was smart, talented and did better investigating than the detectives. Then there’s a mystery involving the mansion that seemed to be connected.
the narration…
I’m a big fan of Kathleen Early and her storytelling skills and she was great here as Rowan. Caitlin Kelly was perfect as the sometime bratty teen Natalie and Sarah-Mollo Christensen was wonderful as the mysterious Wincott secretary. I enjoyed the performances individually and collectively.
the bottom line…
This is my first by the author, someone I’ve wanted to read for a while and I chose a good one. The characters were well developed and the mystery nicely designed and connected. And, there’s a romance element I wasn’t expecting. I’ll definitely be checking out Bowen’s backlist.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
Rowan Gallagher is an architect and single mother with a 16-year old daughter, Natalie. She lives in Portland, Maine and is working on a two-year contract to restore an historic mansion for the influential Wincott family. She loves the project but her personal life just hit the skids. The man she’s been dating suddenly and inexplicably dumped her. But! He’s forgotten to turn off his location tracker and Rowan can’t resist taking a peek every now and then. However…a few nights later, she sees he’s parked in front of the mansion, a spot they used to use. Rowan decides to takes her dog Lickie for a walk and perhaps stroll by that spot. Unfortunately, what she finds isn’t a new girlfriend but a dead ex-boyfriend.
the heart of the story…
Even though Rowan was traumatized and called the police, she still manages to stay on their suspect list. Things get even more complicated when her ex and daughter’s father shows back up in town and lands on that list, too. I really liked Rowan and even though she sometimes made some curious choices, she was smart, talented and did better investigating than the detectives. Then there’s a mystery involving the mansion that seemed to be connected.
the narration…
I’m a big fan of Kathleen Early and her storytelling skills and she was great here as Rowan. Caitlin Kelly was perfect as the sometime bratty teen Natalie and Sarah-Mollo Christensen was wonderful as the mysterious Wincott secretary. I enjoyed the performances individually and collectively.
the bottom line…
This is my first by the author, someone I’ve wanted to read for a while and I chose a good one. The characters were well developed and the mystery nicely designed and connected. And, there’s a romance element I wasn’t expecting. I’ll definitely be checking out Bowen’s backlist.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
June 14, 2025
When architect Rowan Gallagher agrees to restore a historic mansion for one of Maine’s most prominent families, she has no idea what is in store for her both personally and professionally. Divorced and newly single following a breakup she regrets, she cannot help but stalk her ex— until she finds him dead. Soon, more questions than answers begin to surface as she discovers that her ex was also stalking her— digging into her past and new restoration job.
Believe it or not, this is my first Sarina Bowen novel, and I understand now the amount of hype she gets around her thrillers, in particular. There is just something about a short and bingy thriller like this one that makes it completely unputdownable. I felt myself intrigued from the moment Rowan sets foot in the mansion she will be restoring, and as the plot progressed and we learned more of the backstory behind the owners of the mansion, as well as some of Rowan’s romantic entanglements, I found myself glued to the pages. The pacing was pretty on point, though there was a section in the midway point where it began to drag a little bit, before quickly ratcheting back up.
I will say, I was a little confused as we reached the ending— unsure if I had missed a step. I wound up backtracking and rereading the last third of the book and as it turns out, I missed nothing. All that to say, I think there may be a plot hole or two. However, even with that, I still enjoyed this one for the high entertainment value and scandalous fun. I also love when historical fiction sneaks into a story, as it did with this one, for an added bonus.
🎧 This was super fun on audio, helmed by Kathleen Early, Caitlin Kelly, and Sarah Mollo-Christensen. While dual POVs with a larger cast of characters can be more difficult on audio, having three separate and distinct narrators made it an easier and much more enjoyable experience. Their storytelling helped to add to the already terrific eerie atmosphere and bingy nature of the story itself.
Read if you like:
▪️domestic suspense
▪️family drama
▪️romance subplot
▪️house as a character
▪️very bingy books
▪️dual timelines/POVs
Thank you Harper Perennial and Harper Audio for the advanced copies.
Believe it or not, this is my first Sarina Bowen novel, and I understand now the amount of hype she gets around her thrillers, in particular. There is just something about a short and bingy thriller like this one that makes it completely unputdownable. I felt myself intrigued from the moment Rowan sets foot in the mansion she will be restoring, and as the plot progressed and we learned more of the backstory behind the owners of the mansion, as well as some of Rowan’s romantic entanglements, I found myself glued to the pages. The pacing was pretty on point, though there was a section in the midway point where it began to drag a little bit, before quickly ratcheting back up.
I will say, I was a little confused as we reached the ending— unsure if I had missed a step. I wound up backtracking and rereading the last third of the book and as it turns out, I missed nothing. All that to say, I think there may be a plot hole or two. However, even with that, I still enjoyed this one for the high entertainment value and scandalous fun. I also love when historical fiction sneaks into a story, as it did with this one, for an added bonus.
🎧 This was super fun on audio, helmed by Kathleen Early, Caitlin Kelly, and Sarah Mollo-Christensen. While dual POVs with a larger cast of characters can be more difficult on audio, having three separate and distinct narrators made it an easier and much more enjoyable experience. Their storytelling helped to add to the already terrific eerie atmosphere and bingy nature of the story itself.
Read if you like:
▪️domestic suspense
▪️family drama
▪️romance subplot
▪️house as a character
▪️very bingy books
▪️dual timelines/POVs
Thank you Harper Perennial and Harper Audio for the advanced copies.
June 6, 2025
4.25 stars. You can’t go wrong in reading this intriguing tale layered with scandals, secrets and lies. The book takes a good minute to get set up in the first half; -a mother is dumped by her boyfriend in a text.. she follows his location to where she finds him dead. That makes her a lead suspect in the case.
Our MC has been hired to restore the Wincott mansion which gives off these creepy atmospheric vibes. The manse is like a character in of itself, all sordid and sinister.. hiding a murder mystery deep in its hallowed walls and dark corners. I thought Bowen’s realistic mother-teen daughter relationship was spot on, there’s an ex-husband in prison which adds to the drama, and I liked seeing this book included one of my favorite tropes—the second-chance romance.. and hey what’s an old historic mansion without a ghostly haunting. Bowen did a splendid job! Pub. 5/13/25
Our MC has been hired to restore the Wincott mansion which gives off these creepy atmospheric vibes. The manse is like a character in of itself, all sordid and sinister.. hiding a murder mystery deep in its hallowed walls and dark corners. I thought Bowen’s realistic mother-teen daughter relationship was spot on, there’s an ex-husband in prison which adds to the drama, and I liked seeing this book included one of my favorite tropes—the second-chance romance.. and hey what’s an old historic mansion without a ghostly haunting. Bowen did a splendid job! Pub. 5/13/25
November 16, 2025
⋆˚࿔ ★★★★☆ [four stars]
this was such a pleasant surprise!! i enjoyed the interesting atmosphere and how we got multiple points of view. the characters traits, reactions and conversations felt authentic. i enjoyed the mother-daughter-relationship and loved both the characters <3 we clearly had a obvious, easy villain to hate from the start and oh how i wanted to punch him :)
───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────
ᯓpre-read :
i've been obsessed with thrillers this year!! this sounded quite interesting and i love reading new-to-me authors <3
this was such a pleasant surprise!! i enjoyed the interesting atmosphere and how we got multiple points of view. the characters traits, reactions and conversations felt authentic. i enjoyed the mother-daughter-relationship and loved both the characters <3 we clearly had a obvious, easy villain to hate from the start and oh how i wanted to punch him :)
───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────
ᯓpre-read :
i've been obsessed with thrillers this year!! this sounded quite interesting and i love reading new-to-me authors <3
May 25, 2025
Sarina Bowen absolutely nails the genre shift in this gripping thriller, and honestly? She should write more of them. Fast.
Rowan Gallagher is smart, flawed, and totally believable—exactly the kind of protagonist you root for even as she spirals. What starts as a petty, totally relatable moment of post-breakup spying quickly veers into dark, twisty territory. The tension is perfectly paced, the reveals come just when you need them (and not a moment before), and the emotional stakes are as high as the danger.
This isn’t just a thriller—it’s a smart exploration of how well we really know the people we let into our lives. If this is Bowen testing thriller waters, I say dive all the way in. I'll be first in line for the next one.
🎶"bad idea right?" – Olivia Rodrigo
🎶"No Rest for the Wicked" – Lykke Li
Rowan Gallagher is smart, flawed, and totally believable—exactly the kind of protagonist you root for even as she spirals. What starts as a petty, totally relatable moment of post-breakup spying quickly veers into dark, twisty territory. The tension is perfectly paced, the reveals come just when you need them (and not a moment before), and the emotional stakes are as high as the danger.
This isn’t just a thriller—it’s a smart exploration of how well we really know the people we let into our lives. If this is Bowen testing thriller waters, I say dive all the way in. I'll be first in line for the next one.
🎶"bad idea right?" – Olivia Rodrigo
🎶"No Rest for the Wicked" – Lykke Li
February 19, 2025
ARC review • pub date 05.13.25
I thought the book was … okay. I didn’t love it or hate it. It was a reallllllly slow build up to a very abrupt ending. None of the twists were shocking to me, either, which is a bummer when reading a thriller.
Rowan has recently been dumped suddenly, but she still tracks his whereabouts on an app. One night she decides to take a walk over to where he is, which happens to be the mansion she’s the architect on the renovation job. But when she gets there and passes by his car, she finds him dead— and soon becomes a major person of interest.
3 ⭐️
It wasn’t a favorite of mine, but I wouldn’t discourage the read.
Thanks to Harper Perennial and NetGalley for my ARC
I thought the book was … okay. I didn’t love it or hate it. It was a reallllllly slow build up to a very abrupt ending. None of the twists were shocking to me, either, which is a bummer when reading a thriller.
Rowan has recently been dumped suddenly, but she still tracks his whereabouts on an app. One night she decides to take a walk over to where he is, which happens to be the mansion she’s the architect on the renovation job. But when she gets there and passes by his car, she finds him dead— and soon becomes a major person of interest.
3 ⭐️
It wasn’t a favorite of mine, but I wouldn’t discourage the read.
Thanks to Harper Perennial and NetGalley for my ARC
December 29, 2024
Rowan is an architect currently working on restoring a mansion for a very wealthy family. As a single mom to a teenager her main focus is work and Natalie. Her ex went to prison after a violent episode and has not been in their lives. Rowan meets a sweet and charming guy at her favorite coffee shop and decides to give him a chance. after multiple dates she is really feeling this guy until he completely ghosts her with no explanation. after dwelling for days she still has his location and decides to just see where he is. she notices he is near her neighborhood and decides to take her dog to go scope out the situation and see if there is another woman. when she approaches his car everything changes. he's dead. shot himself in the hend. traumatized she has no choice but to get to the bottom of what happened. when the police start pointing the finger at her she has to protect herself and with her ex out of prison and back in town things are getting messy. this book had me on the edge of my seat and i absolutely enjoyed every moment of it.
thank you to the publishers and netgalley for this ARC!
thank you to the publishers and netgalley for this ARC!
June 7, 2025
* 3⭐️1🌶️
* This book had me hooked from the beginning. You read the synopsis and it sounds like the DMC Rowan is going to be shady, a stalker and untethered. But she’s not. Everything she tells the police is 100% is not accusable or suspicious. You are wondering when TF does the book go off the rails and when does Rowan flip.
* There are so many side characters and multiple POV from the rich billionaire owner of the mansion Rowan is trying to restore, to secretaries and historical preservers and old secretaries. You have no idea what all these people’s plans are.
* There’s a murder and literally no suspects. The only link is that it was Rowan’s ex boyfriend of a short time who ended it with her via text.
* Hank wincott from the beginning just seems like the biggest sleezeball who’s hiding something. Does he have a thing going on with his current secretary Coralie. Does she want to harm him? Is she playing an angle. There’s a couple side stories that have you intrigued as well.
* The ending of the story kind of fell flat, I ended up being more interested in the budding romance than the murder mystery aspect.
* I never understood Coralies story - if you read this and want to chime in on how her ending was then please DM me!
* Yes, no, or maybe?: yes
* Read if you like: murder mystery, houses that have a haunting past, a lot of characters that are suspect, deep family drama, soft romance
* This book had me hooked from the beginning. You read the synopsis and it sounds like the DMC Rowan is going to be shady, a stalker and untethered. But she’s not. Everything she tells the police is 100% is not accusable or suspicious. You are wondering when TF does the book go off the rails and when does Rowan flip.
* There are so many side characters and multiple POV from the rich billionaire owner of the mansion Rowan is trying to restore, to secretaries and historical preservers and old secretaries. You have no idea what all these people’s plans are.
* There’s a murder and literally no suspects. The only link is that it was Rowan’s ex boyfriend of a short time who ended it with her via text.
* Hank wincott from the beginning just seems like the biggest sleezeball who’s hiding something. Does he have a thing going on with his current secretary Coralie. Does she want to harm him? Is she playing an angle. There’s a couple side stories that have you intrigued as well.
* The ending of the story kind of fell flat, I ended up being more interested in the budding romance than the murder mystery aspect.
* I never understood Coralies story - if you read this and want to chime in on how her ending was then please DM me!
* Yes, no, or maybe?: yes
* Read if you like: murder mystery, houses that have a haunting past, a lot of characters that are suspect, deep family drama, soft romance
April 4, 2025
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: May 13, 2025
My introduction to Sarina Bowen came through her suspense novel, “The Five Year Lie” so when I was invited to read her new novel, “Dying to Meet You”, I was thrilled.
Rowan Gallagher is an architect who has recently been commissioned to redo a historic mansion that belongs to the infamous and elite Wincott family in Maine. Even though this is the oppourtunity of a lifetime for Rowan, she feels distracted and heartbroken after her most recent boyfriend ghosted her. When Rowan finds the same ex-boyfriend dead by a gunshot wound on the property of the very mansion Rowan is working at, it doesn’t take long before fingers point to Rowan as the suspect. But soon, Rowan uncovers the secret history of the mansion, and the family who owns it. Secrets that they will kill to keep quiet.
“Dying” is sharp, modern and emotionally charged, as Rowan battles her relationship with her recently deceased ex-boyfriend, her hormone-fueled teenage daughter and her daughter’s father, Harrison, who was recently released from jail and is slowly infiltrating his way back into her life. Although the police suspect Rowan almost immediately, it is very apparent to the reader that Rowan is the innocent party, but there are so many other potential suspects to maintain a consistent state of suspense and mystery.
The novel is told from the perspective of Rowan, primarily, but also a young woman by the name of Coralie, who plays a significant role in the novel but it isn’t until the final pages when we see just how important she is.
As the story unfolds, there are twists and turns around every corner. With Rowan’s ex-boyfriend dead, who is responsible? Is it the journalist ex-wife who Rowan didn’t know about? Or Rowan’s ex-partner and the father of Rowan’s daughter? Or is it someone else- anyone from the long list of women that the elite, white men of the Wincott family have harmed in years past?
“Dying to Meet You” is a slow burn, but once it picks up it hooked me. The sordid history of the Wincott mansion was fascinating, and it served the purpose of tying all of the many plot lines together with one focus. Bowen’s writing is engaging, her characters are likable and her plot is relevant and poignant. “Dying” was only Bowen’s second suspense novel and I hope to see more like this from her as she continues her transition to the genre.
Expected publication date: May 13, 2025
My introduction to Sarina Bowen came through her suspense novel, “The Five Year Lie” so when I was invited to read her new novel, “Dying to Meet You”, I was thrilled.
Rowan Gallagher is an architect who has recently been commissioned to redo a historic mansion that belongs to the infamous and elite Wincott family in Maine. Even though this is the oppourtunity of a lifetime for Rowan, she feels distracted and heartbroken after her most recent boyfriend ghosted her. When Rowan finds the same ex-boyfriend dead by a gunshot wound on the property of the very mansion Rowan is working at, it doesn’t take long before fingers point to Rowan as the suspect. But soon, Rowan uncovers the secret history of the mansion, and the family who owns it. Secrets that they will kill to keep quiet.
“Dying” is sharp, modern and emotionally charged, as Rowan battles her relationship with her recently deceased ex-boyfriend, her hormone-fueled teenage daughter and her daughter’s father, Harrison, who was recently released from jail and is slowly infiltrating his way back into her life. Although the police suspect Rowan almost immediately, it is very apparent to the reader that Rowan is the innocent party, but there are so many other potential suspects to maintain a consistent state of suspense and mystery.
The novel is told from the perspective of Rowan, primarily, but also a young woman by the name of Coralie, who plays a significant role in the novel but it isn’t until the final pages when we see just how important she is.
As the story unfolds, there are twists and turns around every corner. With Rowan’s ex-boyfriend dead, who is responsible? Is it the journalist ex-wife who Rowan didn’t know about? Or Rowan’s ex-partner and the father of Rowan’s daughter? Or is it someone else- anyone from the long list of women that the elite, white men of the Wincott family have harmed in years past?
“Dying to Meet You” is a slow burn, but once it picks up it hooked me. The sordid history of the Wincott mansion was fascinating, and it served the purpose of tying all of the many plot lines together with one focus. Bowen’s writing is engaging, her characters are likable and her plot is relevant and poignant. “Dying” was only Bowen’s second suspense novel and I hope to see more like this from her as she continues her transition to the genre.
April 30, 2025
How can this author write some of the best hockey romances AND solid thrillers?! Peoples talents truly amaze me 🤩 I love the premise here, a single mom is dating a guy and out of nowhere he dumps her via text. Rude. He forgot to turn his location off (very The Black Dog coded iykyk) and she decides to see what he’s up to and turns out he’s dead. Now she’s a suspect and that’s pretty much all you need to know. I liked Rowan’s character and found her easy to empathize with, she came across as intelligent and just wanted to clear her name and find out who killed her ex. Her relationship with her teenaged daughter read as authentic too so the characterization was on point for me as well. The story itself def kept my attention and went in unexpected directions. I did figure out whodunnit ahead of time but it was still a fun ride. This was a pretty slow burn with action in the last quarter that picked up the pacing but overall a solid thriller that I enjoyed.
May 26, 2025
I have been in a big book slump. Nothing seems appealing and reading is seeming like a chore. Thankfully, this book pulled me out of my slump!
It wasn't the craftiest of thrillers, but I found it very entertaining overall and I really enjoyed the cast of characters and the evolvement of the plot.
This is my first book by Bowen. Apparently, she wrote romance and transitioned into thrillers -- well those are my two favorite genres, so I will have to explore more of her works!
It wasn't the craftiest of thrillers, but I found it very entertaining overall and I really enjoyed the cast of characters and the evolvement of the plot.
This is my first book by Bowen. Apparently, she wrote romance and transitioned into thrillers -- well those are my two favorite genres, so I will have to explore more of her works!
June 9, 2025
I enjoyed the book, though I thought it was a little too long. the reveal of who the killer was actually surprised me! and I liked the last chapter a lot.
June 25, 2025
3.5 stars
Thank you Harper Perennial for sending me a free copy of DYING TO MEET YOU by Sarina Bowen!
Don’t you hate it when a guy breaks up with you and then you find his dead body and become the prime suspect in his murder? Alright, so maybe that’s not a situation most of us have faced, but single mother Rowan Gallagher has a huge problem on her hands. She better dig around and search for answers to clear her name.
A good premise to keep me interested although my natural curiosity is what drove me to read rather than being heavily invested in Rowan and her daughter. Kinda need to overlook questionable decisions and frustrating behavior. It somewhat reminded me of a Lifetime movie, you don’t need it to be perfect to keep you entertained.
Thank you Harper Perennial for sending me a free copy of DYING TO MEET YOU by Sarina Bowen!
Don’t you hate it when a guy breaks up with you and then you find his dead body and become the prime suspect in his murder? Alright, so maybe that’s not a situation most of us have faced, but single mother Rowan Gallagher has a huge problem on her hands. She better dig around and search for answers to clear her name.
A good premise to keep me interested although my natural curiosity is what drove me to read rather than being heavily invested in Rowan and her daughter. Kinda need to overlook questionable decisions and frustrating behavior. It somewhat reminded me of a Lifetime movie, you don’t need it to be perfect to keep you entertained.
December 9, 2024
Sarina Bowen, one of my favorite romance authors, is now easily becoming one of my favorite mystery thriller authors.
Dying to Meet You introduces us to Rowan, an architect in charge of the high-profile restoration of a historic mansion in Maine. She's also a single mother who has recently found herself dumped via text. Still hung up on what could have been, she keeps virtual tabs on her ex and soon finds herself discovering his dead body in the parking lot of her work site.
What sets this thriller apart is the depth of character development that Bowen can achieve while also unraveling a satisfying murder mystery. I barely put this book down once I started it and found myself just as invested in what happened to Rowan as I did in figuring out who killed her mysterious ex-boyfriend. Highly recommend this one!
Many thanks to Harper Perennial and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Dying to Meet You introduces us to Rowan, an architect in charge of the high-profile restoration of a historic mansion in Maine. She's also a single mother who has recently found herself dumped via text. Still hung up on what could have been, she keeps virtual tabs on her ex and soon finds herself discovering his dead body in the parking lot of her work site.
What sets this thriller apart is the depth of character development that Bowen can achieve while also unraveling a satisfying murder mystery. I barely put this book down once I started it and found myself just as invested in what happened to Rowan as I did in figuring out who killed her mysterious ex-boyfriend. Highly recommend this one!
Many thanks to Harper Perennial and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
September 19, 2025
Dying to Meet You was my first Sarina Bowen novel, and I have to say, I’m impressed. This is a solid thriller—sharp, well-written, and genuinely hard to put down.
What stood out most to me were the multiple POVs. Each character had such an interesting perspective, and watching their stories weave together kept me engaged all the way through. The story was fantastic—just the right mix of tension, atmosphere, and character work. I also really appreciated how well the characters were developed.
That said, the pacing isn’t always even. Some chapters stretch longer than necessary, and a few character choices feel a little too convenient. Also, If I’m being honest, the ending wasn’t quite the knockout I was hoping for. After such a strong, gripping build-up, I expected something a little more explosive.
Still, that doesn’t take away from how much I enjoyed the ride. This was an impressive introduction to Bowen’s writing, and I’ll definitely be picking up more of her books.
3.5 stars 🌟
What stood out most to me were the multiple POVs. Each character had such an interesting perspective, and watching their stories weave together kept me engaged all the way through. The story was fantastic—just the right mix of tension, atmosphere, and character work. I also really appreciated how well the characters were developed.
That said, the pacing isn’t always even. Some chapters stretch longer than necessary, and a few character choices feel a little too convenient. Also, If I’m being honest, the ending wasn’t quite the knockout I was hoping for. After such a strong, gripping build-up, I expected something a little more explosive.
Still, that doesn’t take away from how much I enjoyed the ride. This was an impressive introduction to Bowen’s writing, and I’ll definitely be picking up more of her books.
3.5 stars 🌟
May 8, 2025
4.5
This was my first book by this author, but I will most definitely be looking into her backlist!
Rowan Gallagher is a single mother to a teenage daughter and a talented architect. She's working on a restoration project for a historic mansion belonging to one of the most powerful families in Maine. Her boyfriend, Tim, has just broken up with her for no reason, and he did it via text! So she's been tracking his whereabouts using an app. He's dining out while she's holed up at home feeling sorry for herself. But when she sees him in "their" spot, she's furious. She needs to know who's in the car with him, so she takes her dog for a walk. What she finds is Tim dead in the driver's seat. It appears to be a suicide but is quickly ruled a murder. She was the first witness and is now the primary suspect. As the investigation ensues, she finds out meeting Tim wasn't accidental. He planned it to gather information on her. What could he possibly want from her? Why did he end up dead, and who killed him?
Told in multiple POVs, this book was extremely entertaining! It was suspenseful and a total page-turner with a shocking reveal! I most definitely didn't see that ending coming! The mystery of the murder and the history of the mansion completely intrigued me. An added bonus was the second-chance romance, and I absolutely loved the setting! I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it.🩷
This was my first book by this author, but I will most definitely be looking into her backlist!
Rowan Gallagher is a single mother to a teenage daughter and a talented architect. She's working on a restoration project for a historic mansion belonging to one of the most powerful families in Maine. Her boyfriend, Tim, has just broken up with her for no reason, and he did it via text! So she's been tracking his whereabouts using an app. He's dining out while she's holed up at home feeling sorry for herself. But when she sees him in "their" spot, she's furious. She needs to know who's in the car with him, so she takes her dog for a walk. What she finds is Tim dead in the driver's seat. It appears to be a suicide but is quickly ruled a murder. She was the first witness and is now the primary suspect. As the investigation ensues, she finds out meeting Tim wasn't accidental. He planned it to gather information on her. What could he possibly want from her? Why did he end up dead, and who killed him?
Told in multiple POVs, this book was extremely entertaining! It was suspenseful and a total page-turner with a shocking reveal! I most definitely didn't see that ending coming! The mystery of the murder and the history of the mansion completely intrigued me. An added bonus was the second-chance romance, and I absolutely loved the setting! I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it.🩷
April 18, 2025
I was first introduced to Sarina Bowen, with her book The Five Year Lie. I devoured that book, lent it out to my friends and recommended it. So of course I was excited for this book! And I was not disappointed.
Dying to Meet You is a character intense mystery/ thriller that is centered around a mansion with a sordid history. The reconstruction of the Wincott mansion is bringing up a lot of bad memories and exposing scandals and secrets. The secrets are exposed as a murder investigation unfolds, intertwining stories. Told through several narratives, all connected to the mansion, the story is multileveled and well rounded.
There are twists that shock, but the one I really liked the most was revealed with the final narrative. It’s the ghosts story. Did I mention there is a ghost haunting the mansion? Just another fun thing to throw into the mix.
Another great mystery, that keeps the reader guessing til the end.
Dying to Meet You is a character intense mystery/ thriller that is centered around a mansion with a sordid history. The reconstruction of the Wincott mansion is bringing up a lot of bad memories and exposing scandals and secrets. The secrets are exposed as a murder investigation unfolds, intertwining stories. Told through several narratives, all connected to the mansion, the story is multileveled and well rounded.
There are twists that shock, but the one I really liked the most was revealed with the final narrative. It’s the ghosts story. Did I mention there is a ghost haunting the mansion? Just another fun thing to throw into the mix.
Another great mystery, that keeps the reader guessing til the end.
June 6, 2025
Thank you HarperAudio and NetGalley for the ALC of Dying to Mee You by Sarina Bowen. This one is harder for me to review, I liked it but it’s not something that will stick with me. The story follows a single mom, who’s working as an architect restoring a giant mansion. Her boyfriend is found dead in the parking lot of said mansion after breaking things off with her. Suspicious?? I’d say. The story is definitely slower moving with the MC trying to find the connection to her boyfriends death and the hotel. I really liked the multiple POVS it kept things fresh and interesting. What I didn’t like was the narrator pronounces WH words without the “W” so “when” sounds like “wHHHHen” and it’s rather distracting. I think I would of enjoyed it more if I read a physical copy.
July 21, 2025
This was way too long for the underwhelming ending.
June 21, 2025
Book Title: Dying to Meet You
Author(s): Sarina Bowen
Publisher(s): Harper Perennial/HarperAudio
🍿 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘐𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴: I started reading Sarina Bowen when she started writing thrillers and I will never turn back. I loved Dying to Meet You just as much as I loved The Five Year Lie, and Bowen is definitely an auto buy author for me now. This was one of my most anticipated books of the year and it lived up to every moment I spent waiting for it.
🤩 𝚃͏𝚑͏𝚎͏ 𝙱͏𝚎͏𝚜͏𝚝͏ 𝙱͏𝚒͏𝚝͏𝚜͏: Though I was a little confused by the viewpoints in the beginning, I was instantly pulled into the storyline. I did love having the different viewpoints and I liked the way they all added something different to the storyline. There is a dash of family drama in the book, and I loved the way Bowen blended mystery, thrills, and emotions together. I also really liked most of the characters and even though I’m not a mom, I totally felt for Rowan trying to raise her daughter by herself. The twists at the end blew me off my feet and I think my jaw actually dropped at a couple of them.
🎧 𝒜𝓊𝒹𝒾𝑜𝒷𝑜𝑜𝓀 𝒩𝒶𝓇𝓇𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃: We have a lovely audiobook thanks to the cast of Kathleen Early, Caitlin Kelly & Sarah Mollo-Christensen. I was extremely happy they didn’t skimp on multiple narrators for multiple viewpoints, and I loved every single one of them! Narration was on point all the way through and enhanced the book in the best possible way.
💭 𝘊𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴: The secrets unearthed in Dying to Meet You just get juicer and juicer as the story goes on and I was awed by the way Bowen tied everything together. The confusion I had with the viewpoints in the beginning ultimately dissipated and ended up making perfect sense when I got to the end. And the best part is, I never saw it coming.
T͏h͏i͏s͏ B͏o͏o͏k͏ i͏n͏ 5͏ E͏m͏o͏j͏i͏’s͏ o͏r͏ L͏e͏s͏s͏: 🧱💰🐕🚨
𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝙰𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Author(s): Sarina Bowen
Publisher(s): Harper Perennial/HarperAudio
🍿 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘐𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴: I started reading Sarina Bowen when she started writing thrillers and I will never turn back. I loved Dying to Meet You just as much as I loved The Five Year Lie, and Bowen is definitely an auto buy author for me now. This was one of my most anticipated books of the year and it lived up to every moment I spent waiting for it.
🤩 𝚃͏𝚑͏𝚎͏ 𝙱͏𝚎͏𝚜͏𝚝͏ 𝙱͏𝚒͏𝚝͏𝚜͏: Though I was a little confused by the viewpoints in the beginning, I was instantly pulled into the storyline. I did love having the different viewpoints and I liked the way they all added something different to the storyline. There is a dash of family drama in the book, and I loved the way Bowen blended mystery, thrills, and emotions together. I also really liked most of the characters and even though I’m not a mom, I totally felt for Rowan trying to raise her daughter by herself. The twists at the end blew me off my feet and I think my jaw actually dropped at a couple of them.
🎧 𝒜𝓊𝒹𝒾𝑜𝒷𝑜𝑜𝓀 𝒩𝒶𝓇𝓇𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃: We have a lovely audiobook thanks to the cast of Kathleen Early, Caitlin Kelly & Sarah Mollo-Christensen. I was extremely happy they didn’t skimp on multiple narrators for multiple viewpoints, and I loved every single one of them! Narration was on point all the way through and enhanced the book in the best possible way.
💭 𝘊𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴: The secrets unearthed in Dying to Meet You just get juicer and juicer as the story goes on and I was awed by the way Bowen tied everything together. The confusion I had with the viewpoints in the beginning ultimately dissipated and ended up making perfect sense when I got to the end. And the best part is, I never saw it coming.
T͏h͏i͏s͏ B͏o͏o͏k͏ i͏n͏ 5͏ E͏m͏o͏j͏i͏’s͏ o͏r͏ L͏e͏s͏s͏: 🧱💰🐕🚨
𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝙰𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
May 19, 2025
Story 4 stars. Narration 4.5 stars
This is the second romantic suspense novel by Sarina Bowen that I’ve read. I think I’ve read everything else(contemporary romances)she’s ever written and of course I’m reading this new genre for her now.
Rowan is a single mother of a sixteen year old daughter and works as an architect. She’s just been dumped by the guy she’s been dating for a few months. She’s not in love, but is hurt. Alone one night she decides to use her finder app on her phone to see what he’s doing. Finding him sitting in front of the historical mansion that’s she’s helping to renovate, she goes there only to find him dead. Now suspect number one for the police, she starts digging into everything that her ex was into. Her daughter’s father, Harrison, is back in town after a long stay in prison for beating a man almost to death. So now the police has yet another suspect.
I enjoyed the story and liked the characters a lot-especially Harrison. I didn’t expect to like an ex-con but I really did. There were circumstances around the reason for the beating. That explanation was kinda out of left field for me,but I went with it. The story has some suspenseful moments and some near death moments. The whodunnit part I figured out about two thirds of the way through. I didn’t figure out the why though. I liked the book and recommend it to romantic suspense/mystery readers ages 15 plus.
This is the second romantic suspense novel by Sarina Bowen that I’ve read. I think I’ve read everything else(contemporary romances)she’s ever written and of course I’m reading this new genre for her now.
Rowan is a single mother of a sixteen year old daughter and works as an architect. She’s just been dumped by the guy she’s been dating for a few months. She’s not in love, but is hurt. Alone one night she decides to use her finder app on her phone to see what he’s doing. Finding him sitting in front of the historical mansion that’s she’s helping to renovate, she goes there only to find him dead. Now suspect number one for the police, she starts digging into everything that her ex was into. Her daughter’s father, Harrison, is back in town after a long stay in prison for beating a man almost to death. So now the police has yet another suspect.
I enjoyed the story and liked the characters a lot-especially Harrison. I didn’t expect to like an ex-con but I really did. There were circumstances around the reason for the beating. That explanation was kinda out of left field for me,but I went with it. The story has some suspenseful moments and some near death moments. The whodunnit part I figured out about two thirds of the way through. I didn’t figure out the why though. I liked the book and recommend it to romantic suspense/mystery readers ages 15 plus.
December 19, 2024
A few months ago I read this author's last book, The Five Year Lie, and I liked it so much that I was very excited to read a new thriller by Bowen.
Unfortunately, this new book didn't work so well for me.
At first I was enjoying it. The setting, the ambience, the mystery of who murdered Tim, and how the 3 POVs would end up being connected in the end of the story. I liked the whole idea of it. I was in for it.
But, sadly, I didn't particularly like the main character, Rowan, or anyone else in this story, really. And if I can't connect or care about any characters in a book, I simply cannot enjoy my reading experience. What's more, the fact that this is a very slow-paced mystery didn't help my enjoyment of it.
The writing also bothered me. Some sentences are repeated several times, which only made me even more bored with this book.
In the end, I just didn't care for what was going on, whether Rowan would find out who was Tim's killer, or not.
There is also a ghost presence within the mansion - which we could say it is a character in this book, that initially caught my attention, but then it got forgotten and only in the penultimate chapter it got mentioned again.
I'm really sad to not have enjoyed this book, but I'm sure other readers will like it.
I'd recommend it to anyone who has read a book by this author before and enjoyed it.
Thank you, NetGalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks, for providing me with a free eARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
Unfortunately, this new book didn't work so well for me.
At first I was enjoying it. The setting, the ambience, the mystery of who murdered Tim, and how the 3 POVs would end up being connected in the end of the story. I liked the whole idea of it. I was in for it.
But, sadly, I didn't particularly like the main character, Rowan, or anyone else in this story, really. And if I can't connect or care about any characters in a book, I simply cannot enjoy my reading experience. What's more, the fact that this is a very slow-paced mystery didn't help my enjoyment of it.
The writing also bothered me. Some sentences are repeated several times, which only made me even more bored with this book.
In the end, I just didn't care for what was going on, whether Rowan would find out who was Tim's killer, or not.
There is also a ghost presence within the mansion - which we could say it is a character in this book, that initially caught my attention, but then it got forgotten and only in the penultimate chapter it got mentioned again.
I'm really sad to not have enjoyed this book, but I'm sure other readers will like it.
I'd recommend it to anyone who has read a book by this author before and enjoyed it.
Thank you, NetGalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks, for providing me with a free eARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
February 12, 2025
⭐️TLDR Review - a quick read but I found it predictable and didn’t like the characters. Hopefully it gets another round of editing prior to pub!
This was one I was really exited for, but unfortunate it wasn’t for me. I didn’t love any of the characters. I found the MC to be overly dramatic about a break up with a non boyfriend she’d only been casually dating for two months, so we didn’t start off on the right foot. The daughter’s POV was a bit cringe, which could be accurate for a teen girl but also not very fun to read.
There were some VERY clunky descriptions. Describing a cat as “rolling onto her back like a drunk sorority girl at a house party” was beyond tacky and so unnecessary. Why a woman author thought that was a good thing for a woman in her 40s to think is beyond me. “She wears her relentless curiosity like perfume” is said several times. It’s also really repetitive in general - one page it’s “I roll my eyes like my daughter would” less than a page later “I roll my eyes just like Natalie might” but I did read an early copy so hopefully that’s cleared up.
The plot relies on so many coincidences and convenient explanations. I predicted 75% of the plot from a very early chapter. The ending was nonsensical and had an epilogue tacked on which was a head scratcher.
All in all it just wasn’t the right book for me, but I was interested enough to decide to push through instead of DNF’ing so there’s that at least.
This was one I was really exited for, but unfortunate it wasn’t for me. I didn’t love any of the characters. I found the MC to be overly dramatic about a break up with a non boyfriend she’d only been casually dating for two months, so we didn’t start off on the right foot. The daughter’s POV was a bit cringe, which could be accurate for a teen girl but also not very fun to read.
There were some VERY clunky descriptions. Describing a cat as “rolling onto her back like a drunk sorority girl at a house party” was beyond tacky and so unnecessary. Why a woman author thought that was a good thing for a woman in her 40s to think is beyond me. “She wears her relentless curiosity like perfume” is said several times. It’s also really repetitive in general - one page it’s “I roll my eyes like my daughter would” less than a page later “I roll my eyes just like Natalie might” but I did read an early copy so hopefully that’s cleared up.
The plot relies on so many coincidences and convenient explanations. I predicted 75% of the plot from a very early chapter. The ending was nonsensical and had an epilogue tacked on which was a head scratcher.
All in all it just wasn’t the right book for me, but I was interested enough to decide to push through instead of DNF’ing so there’s that at least.
July 28, 2025
A richly atmospheric domestic thriller that’s effortlessly binge-worthy, with an irresistibly twisty plot. Think: privileged lives unraveling, long-buried secrets, a hidden ledger, and a possibly haunted estate — it’s impossible not to get pulled in.
It’s a slow-burn mystery that leans heavily on character development, told through multiple POVs with a wide cast to keep track of — but it’s worth the investment. And yes, there’s even a surprising side romance that adds depth without distracting.
This was my first thriller by Bowen, and I’m already reaching for The Five Year Lie.
It’s a slow-burn mystery that leans heavily on character development, told through multiple POVs with a wide cast to keep track of — but it’s worth the investment. And yes, there’s even a surprising side romance that adds depth without distracting.
This was my first thriller by Bowen, and I’m already reaching for The Five Year Lie.
May 9, 2025
Just finished reading an advanced copy of a book that is being released on May 13th called, Dying To Meet You. This was about Rowan, she's an architect who is currently restoring an old mansion for a wealthy family. When her boyfriend abruptly dumps her, she copes by eating all the ice cream in her house and watching his location on an app. When he goes to "their spot" late one night, which also just happens to be her job site, she feels betrayed he would take another girl there. So she goes to check it out, and instead of finding him with someone else, she finds him dead in his car. And now she's just become the prime suspect in his murder. This was a really enjoyable thriller! I enjoyed how it had multiple POVs of characters throughout this story, I liked the way things weaved together, and I loved the twists this story had! I really enjoyed this one! 🩵📚
Thank you to the author and to the publisher for this ARC of Dying To Meet You, in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to the author and to the publisher for this ARC of Dying To Meet You, in exchange for an honest review.
November 1, 2025
Wow! This was very different…and, very good!
Rowan is a single Mom to her teenage daughter (who also just got her license…)
She’s a pretty well known architect, and is currently working on restoring a Historic Mansion for a very prominent, well-to-do family in Maine.
But, that’s not all. As she’s doing some research on the house, she realizes that it was once a home to unwed teenage girls… and the more she digs, the more she finds…and the more she’s not liking what she finds.
Additionally, she was just broken up with.
She met a man who she really liked, and trusted… and the ending was lousy. But it gets worse!! 😮😕
Add in to this that her ex, her daughter’s Father, who has been in jail for years, has just been released.
And as things start happening, things are just not adding up… and it seems the more she learns, the more confused she’s becoming…
So I’m going to STOP 🛑🛑 right here 🛑🛑 as I don’t want to give anything away, but let me tell you… it was NOTHING like I expected!
#DyingToMeetYou by #SarinaBowen and narrated beautifully by #KathleenEarly; #CaitlinKelly and #SarahMollo-Christensen
4 🌟🌟🌟🌟 for me!!
*** THIS ONE HAS ALREADY BEEN RELEASED !! *** SO LOOK 👀 FOR IT ON SHELVES NOW!!!!! ***
Thanks so much to #NetGalley, #HarperAudioAdult and #HarperPerennial for an ARC of the audiobook, in exchange for an honest review.
You can find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Insta @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️
Rowan is a single Mom to her teenage daughter (who also just got her license…)
She’s a pretty well known architect, and is currently working on restoring a Historic Mansion for a very prominent, well-to-do family in Maine.
But, that’s not all. As she’s doing some research on the house, she realizes that it was once a home to unwed teenage girls… and the more she digs, the more she finds…and the more she’s not liking what she finds.
Additionally, she was just broken up with.
She met a man who she really liked, and trusted… and the ending was lousy. But it gets worse!! 😮😕
Add in to this that her ex, her daughter’s Father, who has been in jail for years, has just been released.
And as things start happening, things are just not adding up… and it seems the more she learns, the more confused she’s becoming…
So I’m going to STOP 🛑🛑 right here 🛑🛑 as I don’t want to give anything away, but let me tell you… it was NOTHING like I expected!
#DyingToMeetYou by #SarinaBowen and narrated beautifully by #KathleenEarly; #CaitlinKelly and #SarahMollo-Christensen
4 🌟🌟🌟🌟 for me!!
*** THIS ONE HAS ALREADY BEEN RELEASED !! *** SO LOOK 👀 FOR IT ON SHELVES NOW!!!!! ***
Thanks so much to #NetGalley, #HarperAudioAdult and #HarperPerennial for an ARC of the audiobook, in exchange for an honest review.
You can find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Insta @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️
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