The Lightning Girl: A Novel

by Sam Ripley

A woman searches for answers about a decades-old missing persons case in this chilling suspense thriller that is perfect for fans of Jennifer McMahon and Ruth Ware.

Thirty years ago, Sarah’s best friend Genevieve survived being struck by lightning. Already a self-proclaimed witch, she said the lightning gave her powers. A teenager’s sense of exaggeration, Sarah thought at the time. Now, returning to her coastal home town after decades away, she thinks about her friend more and more, especially the last night she was seen alive. Genevieve lived through the lightning strike but met her end when one night she slipped and fell off a cliff into an unforgiving sea. Or did she?

After a terrifying vision of her dead best friend, Sarah feels Genevieve is reaching out to her for help and starts to question the narrative of events she has believed for so many years. Searching both her memory of that night on the cliff and uncovering new information that suggests Genevieve may have survived the fall, Sarah becomes determined to uncover the truth about what took place three decades ago. Because if her best friend didn’t die that night after all, what did happen to her?

Genres: Mystery

368 pages, Paperback

Expected publication July 14, 2026

Reviews

[Matt Chisling (MattyandtheBooks) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mini-Review: Not for me, in part because it felt like three different novels in one: A novel about a woman's unravelling, a podcast thriller, and then a naughty narrator breakneck-paced novel. The core store of the girl who was struck by lightning was ultimately far too irrelevant to the story, and the novel's final few twists didn't pay off for me. Had the novel ended at its second to last chapter, I would've been far more satisfied.

A huge thank you to Atria Books for my gifted copy!

[Char Grell · Rating 3 out of 5]

3093 pages in 45K goal

Thank you to NetGalley, Simon and Shuster & the author, Sam Ripley for the advanced copy of the ebook.

The Lighting Girl is a psychological thriller centered on a woman who returns to her coastal hometown and investigates the decades-old disappearance of her best friend, who was once known as "the lightning girl" after surviving a lightning strike.

The story follows Sarah, who, after years away, moves back to her hometown for a fresh start with her son. Her return brings back haunting memories of her teenage best friend, Genevieve (Gen), who was struck by lightning and subsequently vanished under mysterious circumstances thirty years prior.

I like a good whodunnit and this one had me guessing until the very end. There are also some surprises along the way (I won’t give any away here). I’m new to the author but I would read more of this kind of book. It was easy to read, easy to understand and to follow along.

Solid 3 stars.

Thanks again to NetGalley, Simon and Shuster and the author.

[Esther · Rating 3 out of 5]

This had a lot of different vibes and thriller tropes written into one: The Sixth Sense, The Lovely Bones, and Charlie St. Cloud. There were many twists and turns written into this book, and while I found myself really intrigued at finally learning what happened to Gen, I felt underwhelmed by the ending.

[Shelbie Steele · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like this book has amazing potential but the ending fell short for me. I was kinda lost at what happened. I love the twists and turns I never expected. Half way through the book my jaw literally dropped at one of the twists. I also think the chapter with the podcast could be edited better to depict who is talking because it seemed jumbled up.
Great potential for an amazing thriller novel. Just didn’t completely hit in certain places for me.

[Holly McRae]

I absolutely loved The Lightning Girl. From the very first pages, this book pulled me in and refused to let go. I truly couldn’t stop reading I swear my jaw dropped dozens of times with all the twists and turns.

Sam Ripley does an incredible job blending suspense, mystery, and emotional depth. The decades-old disappearance of Genevieve is haunting, and the idea that she may not have died after all kept me constantly questioning what I thought I knew. The coastal setting adds a chilling atmosphere that perfectly matches the story’s dark, unsettling tone. Sarah is a compelling narrator, and watching her return to her hometown and confront buried memories made the story feel personal and intense. Every new revelation made me rethink the night Genevieve vanished, and just when I thought I had things figured out, another twist hit.

This novel is gripping, eerie, and beautifully paced. If you enjoy suspense thrillers with shocking revelations and a touch of the supernatural, this is a must-read. Perfect for fans of Jennifer McMahon and Ruth Ware and honestly, for anyone who loves a story that keeps you guessing until the very end.