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The New Girl
How far would someone go to replace you? A new mother on maternity leave grows increasingly paranoid about her ambitious young temp in this Hitchcockian debut from the fashion editor at
The Times
(UK)
.
Margot is the object of every woman's envy: as an editor at Haute, she has a glamorous job, a beautiful new baby girl, a seemingly perfect life. But when Margot's lifelong friend, Winnie, loses her own newborn boy, their shared dream of pushing strollers together turns to ash. And then there is the matter of Margot's maternity temp: bright, plucky, ambitious Maggie--the young woman Margot chose, but who now seems to be trying to eclipse her in every possible way.
When a cyber-stalker emerges, mocking Margot's façade of perfection and threatening to expose a dark secret she's spent years repressing, Margot feels attacked from all sides. Soon, the innocent preoccupations of motherhood spiral quickly--and perhaps lethally--into a frightening and irretrievable paranoia.
The New Girl is whiplash-paced, and a harrowing look into the profound sense of insecurity that prowls deep in the psyches of women everywhere.
Margot is the object of every woman's envy: as an editor at Haute, she has a glamorous job, a beautiful new baby girl, a seemingly perfect life. But when Margot's lifelong friend, Winnie, loses her own newborn boy, their shared dream of pushing strollers together turns to ash. And then there is the matter of Margot's maternity temp: bright, plucky, ambitious Maggie--the young woman Margot chose, but who now seems to be trying to eclipse her in every possible way.
When a cyber-stalker emerges, mocking Margot's façade of perfection and threatening to expose a dark secret she's spent years repressing, Margot feels attacked from all sides. Soon, the innocent preoccupations of motherhood spiral quickly--and perhaps lethally--into a frightening and irretrievable paranoia.
The New Girl is whiplash-paced, and a harrowing look into the profound sense of insecurity that prowls deep in the psyches of women everywhere.
301 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 19, 2020
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May 22, 2020
And I can hear Switzerland’s national anthem, breathing in the mischievous and tempting chocolate smell and I can feel “let’s meet in the middle”, this is not my favorite novel but it’s also not bad book, I’m neutral kind of three stars are coming up!
Don’t get me wrong! I love evil women’s business rivalry books: nails sharpened, fists clenched, eyes squinted, all set for a big, nasty, unfair, dirty girl fight! So Devil Wears Prada meets Sex and the City and “Bold Type” waltzes with “Hills” and “City” and “Ugly Betty” kind of vicious, smart reads with mysterious and thrilling elements seem like a yummy combination for my literature test but I think mysterious and thrilling part were overshadowed in this book and I felt like I got trapped in Margot’s head and her emotional turmoil kept repeating itself, so much words flew in the pages to express one common feeling which slowed down the pace and I lost my interest eventually.
But to be fair, the second part of the book’s pace was faster and even though the progression of the story changed into different direction than I expected, it was still interesting and moving. So I gave 2.5 stars to the first half and 3.5 stars of the second half. My average is: 3 stars
Let’s take a quick look to the blurb to know more about three women’s intercepted stories. (I already admitted, I am not a big fan of Margot! Or the way she expresses her feelings!)
We meet successful fashion editor magazine Margot who is about to take her maternal leave and her best friend Winnie was also pregnant but she lost her child after giving her birth and now she isolated herself from the outside world and she doesn’t want to see Margot. And Margot also has insecurities to be replaced by younger woman with fresh vision and tons of ambitions to help her climbing career ladder. And Maggie comes into the picture as a candidate for the work, trying her best to take Margot’s place.
And poor Margot starts to deal with the cyber bullying: someone knows her so well and her secrets about her past!
So we read about those three women’s feelings and their anxious, paranoid actions, their fears and insecurities. ( We became something between their confession booth and shrink) I mostly
understand their motives, their mistakes and the reason behind their actions but they really annoyed the hell out of me so many times.
Overall: I got bored at the first half and second half of the book was promising! I still had hard time to connect with the characters and I wish some chapters may been edited or omitted because I found it too much wordy for my taste and I expected some story more thrilling from the great start of the book but I got mostly chic lit, women’s fiction. I enjoyed the writing mostly but it’s still too light and not dark or intense enough for my huge thriller appetite.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine Books to share this interesting ARC with me in exchange my honest review.
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Don’t get me wrong! I love evil women’s business rivalry books: nails sharpened, fists clenched, eyes squinted, all set for a big, nasty, unfair, dirty girl fight! So Devil Wears Prada meets Sex and the City and “Bold Type” waltzes with “Hills” and “City” and “Ugly Betty” kind of vicious, smart reads with mysterious and thrilling elements seem like a yummy combination for my literature test but I think mysterious and thrilling part were overshadowed in this book and I felt like I got trapped in Margot’s head and her emotional turmoil kept repeating itself, so much words flew in the pages to express one common feeling which slowed down the pace and I lost my interest eventually.
But to be fair, the second part of the book’s pace was faster and even though the progression of the story changed into different direction than I expected, it was still interesting and moving. So I gave 2.5 stars to the first half and 3.5 stars of the second half. My average is: 3 stars
Let’s take a quick look to the blurb to know more about three women’s intercepted stories. (I already admitted, I am not a big fan of Margot! Or the way she expresses her feelings!)
We meet successful fashion editor magazine Margot who is about to take her maternal leave and her best friend Winnie was also pregnant but she lost her child after giving her birth and now she isolated herself from the outside world and she doesn’t want to see Margot. And Margot also has insecurities to be replaced by younger woman with fresh vision and tons of ambitions to help her climbing career ladder. And Maggie comes into the picture as a candidate for the work, trying her best to take Margot’s place.
And poor Margot starts to deal with the cyber bullying: someone knows her so well and her secrets about her past!
So we read about those three women’s feelings and their anxious, paranoid actions, their fears and insecurities. ( We became something between their confession booth and shrink) I mostly
understand their motives, their mistakes and the reason behind their actions but they really annoyed the hell out of me so many times.
Overall: I got bored at the first half and second half of the book was promising! I still had hard time to connect with the characters and I wish some chapters may been edited or omitted because I found it too much wordy for my taste and I expected some story more thrilling from the great start of the book but I got mostly chic lit, women’s fiction. I enjoyed the writing mostly but it’s still too light and not dark or intense enough for my huge thriller appetite.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine Books to share this interesting ARC with me in exchange my honest review.
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March 16, 2021
Trigger warning: This book talks about child loss. It also has graphic scenes of sexual abuse.
I feel like all the publicity surrounding this book didn't do it a favour.
It was presented as new hot tense thriller when in reality we got mediocre women's fiction with few thriller/mystery elements.
The story is written in three parts, following three different perspectives: Margot's, Maggie's and Winnie's.
In the first part nothing really happened, except that we met everyone in the story. It was pretty boring.
The second part was my favourite and the one most interesting. That part is the one that stayed with me for weeks after I finished the book.
The last part was one where everything happened and it was okay, even though I wasn't the fan of the way the story developed, and I predicted the bad guy all along.
The writing style was good, it was easy to follow and enjoyable.
Overall, this was The New Girl was a good novel, but I expected more.
Would I still recommend it? Definitely.
I feel like all the publicity surrounding this book didn't do it a favour.
It was presented as new hot tense thriller when in reality we got mediocre women's fiction with few thriller/mystery elements.
The story is written in three parts, following three different perspectives: Margot's, Maggie's and Winnie's.
In the first part nothing really happened, except that we met everyone in the story. It was pretty boring.
The second part was my favourite and the one most interesting. That part is the one that stayed with me for weeks after I finished the book.
The last part was one where everything happened and it was okay, even though I wasn't the fan of the way the story developed, and I predicted the bad guy all along.
The writing style was good, it was easy to follow and enjoyable.
Overall, this was The New Girl was a good novel, but I expected more.
Would I still recommend it? Definitely.
May 20, 2020
Margot Jones has a dream job as a writer for fashion magazine Haute. She’s expecting her first child as is her friend from school Winnie Clough though tragically her baby boy dies shortly after birth with terrible repercussions on their friendship. Maggie Beeches is Margot’s maternity cover and the story is told from the perspective of the three women.
The book is divided into three parts, the first is definitely a slow burner but by part 2 the pace ramps up and by the third it builds and builds and then socks you a great big wallop between the eyes. This is a very well written novel and conveys the rawness of the stultifying grief of the loss of a much wanted child and shows how this overshadows lives which contrasts well with Margot’s overwhelming love and joy when her baby Lila is born. The first half is tantalising as it’s clear that there’s something dark in Winnie and Margot’s past friendship and it also shows Margot’s deepening anxiety and insecurity which is fuelled by Maggie’s success in her cover role and by some unsavoury cyber bullying directed at her. Margot’s fears as a first time mother, all the stress due to lack of sleep which contrasts vividly with the high old time that Maggie is having at Haute which stokes jealousy and anger. In the second part which features Winnie, you come to understand Margot better and appreciate where her deep seated insecurity lies following new girl starting at their school. Helen becomes a manipulative cuckoo in their friendship nest and what unfolds between them is cruel and humiliating for Margot. This section is very pacy and quite dark. The finale is fantastic as everything that you can see escalating comes to a very surprising head and oh boy, is there ever tension, you can almost touch it! The conclusion is good as tragedy leads to reconciliation and a moving forward and I like that positivity.
Overall, I enjoyed this one, it’s definitely slow at the start but as you get deeper into the storyline that all makes sense and you understand the reasons why and it provides a good counterpoint to later plot development.
Ps. I really like the fashion elements. Who wouldn’t love some designer goodies? I’ll have a Chanel jacket (UK 8), a Prada handbag and some Manolos size 5 please. Thanks. 😁
Many thanks to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for the ARC.
The book is divided into three parts, the first is definitely a slow burner but by part 2 the pace ramps up and by the third it builds and builds and then socks you a great big wallop between the eyes. This is a very well written novel and conveys the rawness of the stultifying grief of the loss of a much wanted child and shows how this overshadows lives which contrasts well with Margot’s overwhelming love and joy when her baby Lila is born. The first half is tantalising as it’s clear that there’s something dark in Winnie and Margot’s past friendship and it also shows Margot’s deepening anxiety and insecurity which is fuelled by Maggie’s success in her cover role and by some unsavoury cyber bullying directed at her. Margot’s fears as a first time mother, all the stress due to lack of sleep which contrasts vividly with the high old time that Maggie is having at Haute which stokes jealousy and anger. In the second part which features Winnie, you come to understand Margot better and appreciate where her deep seated insecurity lies following new girl starting at their school. Helen becomes a manipulative cuckoo in their friendship nest and what unfolds between them is cruel and humiliating for Margot. This section is very pacy and quite dark. The finale is fantastic as everything that you can see escalating comes to a very surprising head and oh boy, is there ever tension, you can almost touch it! The conclusion is good as tragedy leads to reconciliation and a moving forward and I like that positivity.
Overall, I enjoyed this one, it’s definitely slow at the start but as you get deeper into the storyline that all makes sense and you understand the reasons why and it provides a good counterpoint to later plot development.
Ps. I really like the fashion elements. Who wouldn’t love some designer goodies? I’ll have a Chanel jacket (UK 8), a Prada handbag and some Manolos size 5 please. Thanks. 😁
Many thanks to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for the ARC.
December 9, 2022
an intense debut novel that falls at its final hurdle. harriet walker's the new girl is told from the three perspectives of margot, fashion editor at haute magazine and new mother to lila, maggie, margot's maternity cover at haute, and winnie, the childhood best friend of margot understandably struggling under the weight of infant loss. through rising jealousy, strengthening paranoia, grief, and unspoken rage, their lives intertwine, taking them down a path they perhaps never expected.
the story is conducted in three parts. part one is slow in pace, but sets the story well enough for you to keep reading, leaving clues as to what is to come, and who to question. part two is the heart of it, and if you are anything like me, will have you anticipating what is to come. secrets are spilled, mistakes are made, and the intensity rises. part three is where the book becomes uneven. what once was a story of female rage, directed at the other as a result of jealousy and paranoia, becomes a cliche where the three women that tore each other apart and behind the other's back enter a new cycle of friendship, putting the past behind them. bonded by trauma they are, but in this case, i found it to be unbelievable that the past could be shaken off so easily, and i love a happy ending. but i do not like happy endings that feel forced, and unfortunately, that was the case here. overwhelming feelings that should have seen all three women in a therapist's chair vanish, just like my interest in the story's conclusion, as they settle down for drinks and the next chapter of their lives, one in which they will all be a part of together.
- 2.5 stars!
the story is conducted in three parts. part one is slow in pace, but sets the story well enough for you to keep reading, leaving clues as to what is to come, and who to question. part two is the heart of it, and if you are anything like me, will have you anticipating what is to come. secrets are spilled, mistakes are made, and the intensity rises. part three is where the book becomes uneven. what once was a story of female rage, directed at the other as a result of jealousy and paranoia, becomes a cliche where the three women that tore each other apart and behind the other's back enter a new cycle of friendship, putting the past behind them. bonded by trauma they are, but in this case, i found it to be unbelievable that the past could be shaken off so easily, and i love a happy ending. but i do not like happy endings that feel forced, and unfortunately, that was the case here. overwhelming feelings that should have seen all three women in a therapist's chair vanish, just like my interest in the story's conclusion, as they settle down for drinks and the next chapter of their lives, one in which they will all be a part of together.
- 2.5 stars!
June 22, 2020
This was too women’s fiction for me - pregnancy, fashion, someone with a secret. Once I figured out that there was nothing “Hitchcockian” about it I went to the last chapter. I’m glad I skipped most of the book because that last chapter confirmed my impression that this book wasn’t for me. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
May 10, 2020
Can a woman really "have it all?" She has the dream job. The husband. A baby on the way. What will happen to the job during maternity leave? This thriller explores the themes of mother vs. career woman; single vs. being in a relationship; grieving vs. growing and more. . . For fashion editor Margo two women are on her mind when she is a new mother. One is her replacement at work (Maggie) and the other her best friend from her school days(Winnie). All three women contribute to the narrative. There are interesting parallels drawn between past and present. In the end all have learned and grown as characters -- even the men. The fashion magazine environment made a fascinating and compelling backdrop to the story as well as the social media feeds that exacerbate Margot's out of whack hormones. Timely and thought-provoking.
Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
May 17, 2020
This was purportedly a thriller that turned out to be not so much of one. A little disappointing in that regard. To me it was more about female relationships. And that age-old bitchy adage that 'her success somehow diminishes my own' that has kept so many women from succeeding in their careers. (Do a poll on how many American women would ever vote for a woman to be president and see.)
Margot is the beautiful, thin, and very stylish fashion editor of Haute Magazine in London who is pregnant with her first child. She suggests a young freelancer named Maggie to take over the reins when she goes on maternity leave. The only problem is that Maggie turns out to be too good at the job!
Margot's other problem is that her best friend Winnie from school years has dumped her after the tragic loss of her own baby and Margot has no idea why...or could it have something to do with what they did to their friend Helen so many years ago? And who is the nasty internet troll who is picking on Margot, using the avatar 'HelenKnows'?
All in all, this is a pleasant chic-lit novel with good character development and a nice twist ending. You can't help but feel bad for Margot and all she is going through during a time when she should be so happy--so much of it is of her own doing, stemming from her mental angst. The story is told from multiple points of view of the three main women in the story: Margot, Maggie and Winnie. Whose version of the story should the reader believe?
I received an arc of this new novel from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinions. Many thanks for the opportunity.
Margot is the beautiful, thin, and very stylish fashion editor of Haute Magazine in London who is pregnant with her first child. She suggests a young freelancer named Maggie to take over the reins when she goes on maternity leave. The only problem is that Maggie turns out to be too good at the job!
Margot's other problem is that her best friend Winnie from school years has dumped her after the tragic loss of her own baby and Margot has no idea why...or could it have something to do with what they did to their friend Helen so many years ago? And who is the nasty internet troll who is picking on Margot, using the avatar 'HelenKnows'?
All in all, this is a pleasant chic-lit novel with good character development and a nice twist ending. You can't help but feel bad for Margot and all she is going through during a time when she should be so happy--so much of it is of her own doing, stemming from her mental angst. The story is told from multiple points of view of the three main women in the story: Margot, Maggie and Winnie. Whose version of the story should the reader believe?
I received an arc of this new novel from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinions. Many thanks for the opportunity.
July 29, 2020
I'm not quite sure how to adequately describe this one and how I felt about it. I almost gave up on it around the 20% mark, but kept on because I have a weird thing about giving up on books; and somewhere around the halfway point, I realized I was really into it and didn't want to put it down! It's another one of those books that is not what it appears from the back cover blurb - in a good way.
Margot Jones is the top fashion editor at a big-time London magazine. Pregnant with her first child, she hand picks her maternity leave replacement - Maggie, a freelance journalist, who isn't too flashy and appears humble and thankful for the job opportunity. Maggie seizes the chance to live her dream life—even temporarily. There is also another parallel storyline - Margot's childhood best friend, Winnie, who is also pregnant, goes into labor early and loses her baby and immediately cuts Margot out of her life. The loss of Winnie's friendship sends Margot into a spiral of insecurity and suspicion, as at the same time, a vicious online troll begins mocking Margot and threatening to expose a dark secret from her past. Margot can't help but think that Winnie is behind it, and paranoia takes over her entire life. On top of it all, Maggie seems to be the new darling of the magazine, and Margot begins to question whether she made a mistake in hiring Maggie as her replacement, as she may be becoming a bigger star than Margot ever was.
The storyline is divided into three parts and is told from alternating POVs - Margot, Maggie, and eventually, Winnie. I thought the first part of the book lagged a bit with all of the background and in-depth fashion descriptions, which just did not hold my interest. I also thought for the majority of the first part of the book that it was going to be a Devil Wears Prada meets Fatal Attraction type of book and that didn't really excite me - but it's not - far from it. I was actually pleasantly surprised by the direction the book took in the second half. I thought I had it all figured out, but I ended up being completely off base. I also didn't overly love any of the characters, but at times, I felt strong emotions about what was taking place in Margot's life and empathized with her. The ending took me by surprise, but in a satisfying way. My only other criticism is that overall, it wasn't quite as dark as I like my thrillers to be, but in some ways, it ended up not being a bad thing.
In the end, I enjoyed this one - if you can mire through the first part, you do start to understand the reasons behind it and its relevance to later plot development. It's a solid 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 for me. It's one that I hope many of my fabulous GR friends read, so I can hear your thoughts on it!
Margot Jones is the top fashion editor at a big-time London magazine. Pregnant with her first child, she hand picks her maternity leave replacement - Maggie, a freelance journalist, who isn't too flashy and appears humble and thankful for the job opportunity. Maggie seizes the chance to live her dream life—even temporarily. There is also another parallel storyline - Margot's childhood best friend, Winnie, who is also pregnant, goes into labor early and loses her baby and immediately cuts Margot out of her life. The loss of Winnie's friendship sends Margot into a spiral of insecurity and suspicion, as at the same time, a vicious online troll begins mocking Margot and threatening to expose a dark secret from her past. Margot can't help but think that Winnie is behind it, and paranoia takes over her entire life. On top of it all, Maggie seems to be the new darling of the magazine, and Margot begins to question whether she made a mistake in hiring Maggie as her replacement, as she may be becoming a bigger star than Margot ever was.
The storyline is divided into three parts and is told from alternating POVs - Margot, Maggie, and eventually, Winnie. I thought the first part of the book lagged a bit with all of the background and in-depth fashion descriptions, which just did not hold my interest. I also thought for the majority of the first part of the book that it was going to be a Devil Wears Prada meets Fatal Attraction type of book and that didn't really excite me - but it's not - far from it. I was actually pleasantly surprised by the direction the book took in the second half. I thought I had it all figured out, but I ended up being completely off base. I also didn't overly love any of the characters, but at times, I felt strong emotions about what was taking place in Margot's life and empathized with her. The ending took me by surprise, but in a satisfying way. My only other criticism is that overall, it wasn't quite as dark as I like my thrillers to be, but in some ways, it ended up not being a bad thing.
In the end, I enjoyed this one - if you can mire through the first part, you do start to understand the reasons behind it and its relevance to later plot development. It's a solid 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 for me. It's one that I hope many of my fabulous GR friends read, so I can hear your thoughts on it!
May 1, 2020
This just didn’t work for me unfortunately.
So much over explaining of feelings and insecurities that I think the real potential for a good story got lost in the mix. It actually made me sad, thinking of those of us women IRL who actually put ourselves through this kind of mental torture.
Maybe if it had only been one of the characters afflicted with this problem it wouldn’t have been so bad...but 3 was overkill for me.
Ended up skimming through the end to see how it all played out.
Hoping for better luck next time with this author!
ARC provided by NetGalley
So much over explaining of feelings and insecurities that I think the real potential for a good story got lost in the mix. It actually made me sad, thinking of those of us women IRL who actually put ourselves through this kind of mental torture.
Maybe if it had only been one of the characters afflicted with this problem it wouldn’t have been so bad...but 3 was overkill for me.
Ended up skimming through the end to see how it all played out.
Hoping for better luck next time with this author!
ARC provided by NetGalley
May 19, 2020
Release date May 19, 2020!!!!
I have started this review several times and keep stopping, mostly because it is hard to explain how strongly this book had me reacting and cringing before turning pages.. The New Girl by Harriet Walker, has depth and is layered... around our insecurities, the baggage we carry from our past, and about the complex relationships between women. Margot is ready to start her maternity leave and she hires her temporary replacement with someone she thinks is not a threat in any way. Furthermore, she likes her replacement, Maggie...quite a bit.
Maggie, on the other hand, suddenly finds herself living her dream life while working at Margot's job. She suddenly realizes she does not want to give up this job ever and she transforms herself into what she needs to be to be successful and popular.
Margot's relationship with her best friend from childhood becomes strained and then abruptly ends when her friend's newborn son dies. The guilt that Margot feels because she is pregnant and her baby is doing fine is severe...but so is the fear that something could happen to her own child. The way that Margot worries over her relationship with her previous bestie reminded me of myself...or rather my old self.
Honestly, I was on pins and needles regarding the safety of Margot and her baby especially when she started being harassed and experiencing bullying online. Pretty heady stuff and kept me reading long past my bedtime! Definitely a good read...but not a light, fluffly beach read or rom com! Highly recommend for when you are in the mood to dive deep!!!
Thank you to NetGalley, author Harriet Walker and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for a digital advanced reader copy for me to read and devour! I really loved the book, even when I hated it for a second here or there for keeping me in too much suspense....and my opinions are my own!!
I have started this review several times and keep stopping, mostly because it is hard to explain how strongly this book had me reacting and cringing before turning pages.. The New Girl by Harriet Walker, has depth and is layered... around our insecurities, the baggage we carry from our past, and about the complex relationships between women. Margot is ready to start her maternity leave and she hires her temporary replacement with someone she thinks is not a threat in any way. Furthermore, she likes her replacement, Maggie...quite a bit.
Maggie, on the other hand, suddenly finds herself living her dream life while working at Margot's job. She suddenly realizes she does not want to give up this job ever and she transforms herself into what she needs to be to be successful and popular.
Margot's relationship with her best friend from childhood becomes strained and then abruptly ends when her friend's newborn son dies. The guilt that Margot feels because she is pregnant and her baby is doing fine is severe...but so is the fear that something could happen to her own child. The way that Margot worries over her relationship with her previous bestie reminded me of myself...or rather my old self.
Honestly, I was on pins and needles regarding the safety of Margot and her baby especially when she started being harassed and experiencing bullying online. Pretty heady stuff and kept me reading long past my bedtime! Definitely a good read...but not a light, fluffly beach read or rom com! Highly recommend for when you are in the mood to dive deep!!!
Thank you to NetGalley, author Harriet Walker and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for a digital advanced reader copy for me to read and devour! I really loved the book, even when I hated it for a second here or there for keeping me in too much suspense....and my opinions are my own!!
May 1, 2020
2.5 stars. I enjoyed reading this, but the ending kind of fizzled out for me. The relationships and tension between Margot/Maggie and Margot/Winnie kept my interest all along, but I kept expecting some big reveal about the situation with Helen, and it never came. So even though there was some drama at the end, it still felt anticlimactic. I feel like I missed something, but I went back to look for it after I finished and couldn't find an explanation. If you have read this:
If you read this book I would recommend going into it with a an expectation that you're reading women's fiction about complicated relationships between women, because I thought this story did that part well, but it didn't really deliver as the thriller I had expected. I mostly requested this because I was sucked in by the description "Hitchcockian"in the blurb, and...it wasn't that.
*I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
If you read this book I would recommend going into it with a an expectation that you're reading women's fiction about complicated relationships between women, because I thought this story did that part well, but it didn't really deliver as the thriller I had expected. I mostly requested this because I was sucked in by the description "Hitchcockian"in the blurb, and...it wasn't that.
*I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 22, 2020
I have to admit I was weepy at the end of this lovely novel! I love books about fashion even though I'm not terribly fashionable myself. Margot is pregnant and about to deliver so she and Haute Magazine's editor hire new girl, Maggie as her replacement. But not only does Maggie fill Margot's shoes, but she flaunts her new style and eventually gets the magazine's cover, much to Margot's chagrin. In the meantime, Margot's best friend Winnie has just lost her own baby and is cocooned in her own grief, unable to even speak to Margot. And so it begins....Alternating between Maggie and Margot in the present, and then Winnie and Margot's past, we see that according to Margot, "In female friendships, the currency of love doesn't always come with an equal exchange rate." Walker speaks to so many themes: jealousy, betrayal, isolation, grief, and redemption. She also addresses the current social media hype as, "this is how friendships form now: in scrolling rather than handshakes." It may very well remind you to examine your relationships with those closest to you and recognize that we all have different needs but always need each other's support!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
May 19, 2020
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Margot is going on maternity leave from her job as a high powered fashion editor. Her best friend is also pregnant but loses her baby and shuns Margot. Maggie is filling in for Margot at work, but she seems to be taking over Margot’s life in the meantime. Things get creepy and Margot gets scared. Is it a thriller? I guess, but i didn’t get a real thriller vibe. It’s not a bad story, it just fell a little flat for me.
November 13, 2020
A Look at Frenemies -Working Women vying for Success at the Cost of Friendship
When I started this story, several times I considered abandoning this one. This year, I have done that to much more than in the past, so I was determined to see it through. I will say that it doesn't have any feature that stands out from all the others in this genre. The writing is fine but nothing unique here, this isn't an insult to the writing per se, it was competent but not memorable.
The story is told in 3 parts. Margot narrates the first part. She is about to take a year maternity leave and selects a casual friend, Maggie to take her place as the fashion editor of a Vogue style magazine. Maggie is thrilled with the opportunity and seeks to reassure Margot that she will be capable but not sabotage her return. Margot is full of angst and she cyber stalks Maggie even after Lila, her precious daughter is born. Of course, Margot has secrets and someone is stalking Margot with the vague hint of exposure that would be very detrimental to her career. Meanwhile, Margot's closest friend in life, Winnie suddenly shut her out completely following the death of her son's death shortly after his birth. Margot is confused by all the turn of events and her husband seems a bit indifferent to these events.
Margot's portion paints her pretty unsympathetically. Though these are very real problems and this type of hostility has been observed in an office I once worked in, I didn't feel much empathy for Margot either. She came across as entitled and whiny. I could understand why her husband was not putting much stock in what she shared. It really seemed as if her career was a greater priority than her family. She came across insecure but also lacking maturity (both of which the author intended).
Part two features Winnie, she has always been the person who has rescued Margot from herself. She is much more mature and emotionally available. She has been Margot's therapist in a sense and in her deepest sorrow really received no support from Margot. She cuts ties for her own sanity and one wonders if she is retaliating against Margot for having a healthy baby. Since the author painted her as a possible evil character, the sympathy one would have for Winnie doesn't really land. We think her disingenuous and even deceiving herself with lies. Again, the suspicion is dangling over every thing she claims about their past relationship.
The last third, Margot faces down her cyberstalker! As the narration, shifts back and forth between Margot, Winnie and Maggie, the anxiety builds (or should have) because our assumptions are being challenged. Then the big reveal and the unlikely heroes rescue Margot from danger. I found this so unlikely, I just couldn't enjoy the happy ever after ending. Sorry, life doesn't happen this way...
Ms. Walker is a journalist and has actually worked for Vogue and another fashion magazine and presently works for another publication in UK. This is her first fiction novel. As they teach in writing courses, 'write what you know'. She did so. Unfortunately, though the story was solid for the most part, I frankly didn't care for the characters, even though we see them from a totally different perspective at the end of the story, this wasn't at all realistic (which if you like fairy tales, you'll probably enjoy this much more than I did). Please don't dismiss this story if the negatives for me are positive attributes.
Ms. Walker is talented but there were a few rough parts throughout. One odd thing that happened repeatedly was adding clunky details to a sentence. We were repeatedly told how Margot had blond hair. In one sentence, Margot is in great distress and we are once again told that she is pulling her blond hair, it was as if, she was hurting her hair for being blond! There were multiple times that I had to reread a paragraph because of confusing and unnecessary details that distracted from the situation and what she was attempting to convey. I think she was attempting to be unique or exhibit "style" when it just didn't forward the story. In an effort to impress, she shot her efforts in the 'foot' so to speak by being vague and confusing.
I would recommend this if you like high fashion, this story had a great focus on the glitz of being in the industry as a bonus. Unfortunately, I never had much interest in fashion, far more interested in clothing that accentuated my body and personal taste to be influenced by trends. Again, this book wasn't for me in great part because I never cared for fairy tales or fashion, so take everything I say with a grain of salt.
When I started this story, several times I considered abandoning this one. This year, I have done that to much more than in the past, so I was determined to see it through. I will say that it doesn't have any feature that stands out from all the others in this genre. The writing is fine but nothing unique here, this isn't an insult to the writing per se, it was competent but not memorable.
The story is told in 3 parts. Margot narrates the first part. She is about to take a year maternity leave and selects a casual friend, Maggie to take her place as the fashion editor of a Vogue style magazine. Maggie is thrilled with the opportunity and seeks to reassure Margot that she will be capable but not sabotage her return. Margot is full of angst and she cyber stalks Maggie even after Lila, her precious daughter is born. Of course, Margot has secrets and someone is stalking Margot with the vague hint of exposure that would be very detrimental to her career. Meanwhile, Margot's closest friend in life, Winnie suddenly shut her out completely following the death of her son's death shortly after his birth. Margot is confused by all the turn of events and her husband seems a bit indifferent to these events.
Margot's portion paints her pretty unsympathetically. Though these are very real problems and this type of hostility has been observed in an office I once worked in, I didn't feel much empathy for Margot either. She came across as entitled and whiny. I could understand why her husband was not putting much stock in what she shared. It really seemed as if her career was a greater priority than her family. She came across insecure but also lacking maturity (both of which the author intended).
Part two features Winnie, she has always been the person who has rescued Margot from herself. She is much more mature and emotionally available. She has been Margot's therapist in a sense and in her deepest sorrow really received no support from Margot. She cuts ties for her own sanity and one wonders if she is retaliating against Margot for having a healthy baby. Since the author painted her as a possible evil character, the sympathy one would have for Winnie doesn't really land. We think her disingenuous and even deceiving herself with lies. Again, the suspicion is dangling over every thing she claims about their past relationship.
The last third, Margot faces down her cyberstalker! As the narration, shifts back and forth between Margot, Winnie and Maggie, the anxiety builds (or should have) because our assumptions are being challenged. Then the big reveal and the unlikely heroes rescue Margot from danger. I found this so unlikely, I just couldn't enjoy the happy ever after ending. Sorry, life doesn't happen this way...
Ms. Walker is a journalist and has actually worked for Vogue and another fashion magazine and presently works for another publication in UK. This is her first fiction novel. As they teach in writing courses, 'write what you know'. She did so. Unfortunately, though the story was solid for the most part, I frankly didn't care for the characters, even though we see them from a totally different perspective at the end of the story, this wasn't at all realistic (which if you like fairy tales, you'll probably enjoy this much more than I did). Please don't dismiss this story if the negatives for me are positive attributes.
Ms. Walker is talented but there were a few rough parts throughout. One odd thing that happened repeatedly was adding clunky details to a sentence. We were repeatedly told how Margot had blond hair. In one sentence, Margot is in great distress and we are once again told that she is pulling her blond hair, it was as if, she was hurting her hair for being blond! There were multiple times that I had to reread a paragraph because of confusing and unnecessary details that distracted from the situation and what she was attempting to convey. I think she was attempting to be unique or exhibit "style" when it just didn't forward the story. In an effort to impress, she shot her efforts in the 'foot' so to speak by being vague and confusing.
I would recommend this if you like high fashion, this story had a great focus on the glitz of being in the industry as a bonus. Unfortunately, I never had much interest in fashion, far more interested in clothing that accentuated my body and personal taste to be influenced by trends. Again, this book wasn't for me in great part because I never cared for fairy tales or fashion, so take everything I say with a grain of salt.
September 15, 2020
This thriller by debut author Harriet Walker asks us if motherhood, work, friendship, and long held secrets can all play nicely. Margot Jones, the sleek and chic fashion editor for Haute magazine is about to go on maternity leave, and she finds her replacement in Maggie Beecher, a journalist who is a far cry from a fashionista. But Maggie learns the ropes and really gets the hang of designer clothes, admiring fans, and front seats at fashion shows. Is she willing to give up this dream job?
Ok. That’s one book. Now here’s a blurb for the other story that ran parallel.
Margot and Winnie were best of friends until Helen arrived and declared Margot to be uncool and kicked her out of the squad. Winnie and her ex best friend witness a horrific accident and know who’s really to blame.
So imagine my surprise when the book opened with the death of an infant. What. This novel is pulled in too many directions. It was trying to communicate too many messages, and it was all bogged down in way too many descriptive passages. I slogged my way through it but it wasn’t enjoyable. I think the author was tying in interesting stories but they didn’t mesh well. No character was likable (maybe Holly the stylist) and the stakes didn’t feel high enough. I kept thinking, “Who cares?” The secret didn’t even have to be kept a secret. It wasn’t a big deal at all.
I will say, the ending was very unexpected so I’m glad I stayed till the end. Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine for this ARC for my honest review
Ok. That’s one book. Now here’s a blurb for the other story that ran parallel.
Margot and Winnie were best of friends until Helen arrived and declared Margot to be uncool and kicked her out of the squad. Winnie and her ex best friend witness a horrific accident and know who’s really to blame.
So imagine my surprise when the book opened with the death of an infant. What. This novel is pulled in too many directions. It was trying to communicate too many messages, and it was all bogged down in way too many descriptive passages. I slogged my way through it but it wasn’t enjoyable. I think the author was tying in interesting stories but they didn’t mesh well. No character was likable (maybe Holly the stylist) and the stakes didn’t feel high enough. I kept thinking, “Who cares?” The secret didn’t even have to be kept a secret. It wasn’t a big deal at all.
I will say, the ending was very unexpected so I’m glad I stayed till the end. Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine for this ARC for my honest review
August 5, 2020
The New Girl is whiplash-paced, and a harrowing look into the profound sense of insecurity that prowls deep in the psyches of women everywhere.
First, the pace is not whiplash. It wasn't until 55% in that the pace actually picked up and so did the writing... a bit.
Second, "women everywhere"? please do not speak for women everywhere and what our insecurities are.
I wanted to read something with a bit of punch and I was drawn to New Girl but it was very underwhelming. I did not believe Margot and her friend Win could be friends since childhood and remain so surface level and bitter towards each other... I know there are surface level but.... . Also, while the book did focus on the New Girl that took over Margot's position it was very surface level and eye-rolling.
Honestly, I would recommend you use your time reading something else.
First, the pace is not whiplash. It wasn't until 55% in that the pace actually picked up and so did the writing... a bit.
Second, "women everywhere"? please do not speak for women everywhere and what our insecurities are.
I wanted to read something with a bit of punch and I was drawn to New Girl but it was very underwhelming. I did not believe Margot and her friend Win could be friends since childhood and remain so surface level and bitter towards each other... I know there are surface level but.... . Also, while the book did focus on the New Girl that took over Margot's position it was very surface level and eye-rolling.
Honestly, I would recommend you use your time reading something else.
April 26, 2020
Margot should be happy. She is expecting her first child and has chosen her temporary replacement at work, Maggie. Of course, she didn't want just anyone to fill her shoes as the editor of Haute magazine. Maggie is a friend, so she shouldn't worry that she will do a better job, or should she? Then there is Winnie, Margot's best friend, who is also pregnant but tragically loses her baby. Besties should stick together in both good and bad times, right, so why won't Winnie return Margot's calls.
These three women give new meaning to insecure, paranoid, and always expecting the other shoe to drop. It's a deep dive into the inner workings of Margot, Maggie, and Winnie's minds with quite a few surprising revelations along the way. The opening made me think this would be more of a thriller, but I didn't find that to be true. It's more of a story about how social media influences perception, and how what we think we know from one photo, doesn't mean we understand that person's real life. The New Girl gave me some intriguing insights into the world of high fashion, which I especially enjoyed due to my current sweatpants and pajamas stay at home life. Though I felt this book got off to a slow start, when it picked up, it took off. 3.5 stars.
These three women give new meaning to insecure, paranoid, and always expecting the other shoe to drop. It's a deep dive into the inner workings of Margot, Maggie, and Winnie's minds with quite a few surprising revelations along the way. The opening made me think this would be more of a thriller, but I didn't find that to be true. It's more of a story about how social media influences perception, and how what we think we know from one photo, doesn't mean we understand that person's real life. The New Girl gave me some intriguing insights into the world of high fashion, which I especially enjoyed due to my current sweatpants and pajamas stay at home life. Though I felt this book got off to a slow start, when it picked up, it took off. 3.5 stars.
August 11, 2020
Rarely do I read a book and find the reviews have got it so wrong. This book was terrible. The central character is loathsome - I wanted to put the book down just to get away from her. The plot is plodding and unconvincing. And the writing is downright bad to the point of being painful to read at times. One of the most lacklustre so-called "thrillers" I have ever read. I wouldn't normally be so harsh but perhaps the author should stick to fashion journalism in future! Steer well clear.
February 16, 2020
The New Girl by Harriet Walker explores one woman’s fear and insecurities, another’s grief, and the secret that binds them together. It’s a complex look at the relationship between women and those around them. There’s a lot going on in this book, Margot, the fashion editor of a popular magazine appears to have it all; she’s always impeccably dressed in all the top fashions, attends every show with only the best VIP seating, and is coolly aloof. Perfect in every way. At least to the outside eye. But when she becomes pregnant and has to find her replacement while on maternity leave, she chooses Maggie, a ‘provincial’ funny girl who always seems one step away from a major gaffe or an embarrassing stain on her shirt. Certainly, she won’t be a threat, right? But this all changes when Maggie begins to develop a sense of self-confidence and her true self shines through, suddenly, everyone loves Maggie and to a threatened Margot, Maggie is loved more than her. Is Maggie gunning to oust Margot from her coveted job?
Margot and her best friend from childhood, Winnie, are pregnant together and couldn’t be more excited to share this journey together. When the unthinkable happens, their worlds fall apart and some seriously messed up things start to happen.
The New Girl really shines the light on the power of social media and the power we’ve given it over our lives. Stalkers following our every move, plotting when to ‘bump’ into us -- think creepy yet oddly attractive Joe in You -- but Ms. Walker cleverly turns it around and shows how the average viewer of social media can let it affect our own sense of self and what we take away from a simple photo. Whole stories can be made from one single photo, depending on the viewer and their frame of mind, keeping in mind that adults are just as susceptible to online bullying and self-esteem issues as our younger counter-parts.
The tension builds slowly at first, setting up well-layered and beautifully flawed characters and then kept me engaged and on edge until the last page. This is a must read for those that love the genre, like myself, and for those that love the challenge of thinking they can figure out the who-dunnit before the end of the book. I betcha can’t!
A big thank you to Random House Publishing Group – Ballentine, Harriet Walker, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of The New Girl in exchange for my honest review.
Margot and her best friend from childhood, Winnie, are pregnant together and couldn’t be more excited to share this journey together. When the unthinkable happens, their worlds fall apart and some seriously messed up things start to happen.
The New Girl really shines the light on the power of social media and the power we’ve given it over our lives. Stalkers following our every move, plotting when to ‘bump’ into us -- think creepy yet oddly attractive Joe in You -- but Ms. Walker cleverly turns it around and shows how the average viewer of social media can let it affect our own sense of self and what we take away from a simple photo. Whole stories can be made from one single photo, depending on the viewer and their frame of mind, keeping in mind that adults are just as susceptible to online bullying and self-esteem issues as our younger counter-parts.
The tension builds slowly at first, setting up well-layered and beautifully flawed characters and then kept me engaged and on edge until the last page. This is a must read for those that love the genre, like myself, and for those that love the challenge of thinking they can figure out the who-dunnit before the end of the book. I betcha can’t!
A big thank you to Random House Publishing Group – Ballentine, Harriet Walker, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of The New Girl in exchange for my honest review.
December 17, 2019
When you read the description of the author and their life sounds like something from 'The Devil Wears Prada' and their book is set in the fashion world, you know it is going to be dark, witty and full of fashion, beauty and gossip. This book delivered on thse topics but it also went much deeper into the psyche of the characters, covering mental health issues, self esteem and how people suffering with both can be terrible communicators.
Margot is about to leave her Fashion Editor role to have a baby, Maggie is her replacement, hand picked by Margot to ensure quality of writing but not surpass Margot as a fashion icon and take her job away from her. Winnie is Margot's old school friend but struggling with a terrible tragedy that took her baby and makes her resent Margot and her pregnancy bloom. These women are very insecure and there actions in the novel are lead by anxiety, paranoia and jealousy. None of them act very nicely and Margots constant whining and anxiety ridden inner dialogue, grates after a while.
I liked how the story was told by each of them, we got a glimpse into their thoughts which helped explain some of their actions. Bringing Winnie in later to tell the tale of her and Margots school years was clever. The incident that plagues Margot was so insignificant but was fueled by Winnie all those years who knew how to prey on Margots insecurities. Really these three women were pretty annoying at times. An incident at the end of the novel, which I didn't see coming, brought everything to a head and it ended how I expected it.
It was well written, the fashion week sections really interesting and I liked Maggie the most. She was the warmest of the women and the only one I really liked. I will enjoy reading the authors future novels. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.
Margot is about to leave her Fashion Editor role to have a baby, Maggie is her replacement, hand picked by Margot to ensure quality of writing but not surpass Margot as a fashion icon and take her job away from her. Winnie is Margot's old school friend but struggling with a terrible tragedy that took her baby and makes her resent Margot and her pregnancy bloom. These women are very insecure and there actions in the novel are lead by anxiety, paranoia and jealousy. None of them act very nicely and Margots constant whining and anxiety ridden inner dialogue, grates after a while.
I liked how the story was told by each of them, we got a glimpse into their thoughts which helped explain some of their actions. Bringing Winnie in later to tell the tale of her and Margots school years was clever. The incident that plagues Margot was so insignificant but was fueled by Winnie all those years who knew how to prey on Margots insecurities. Really these three women were pretty annoying at times. An incident at the end of the novel, which I didn't see coming, brought everything to a head and it ended how I expected it.
It was well written, the fashion week sections really interesting and I liked Maggie the most. She was the warmest of the women and the only one I really liked. I will enjoy reading the authors future novels. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.
February 17, 2020
As I love The Devil Wears Prada and Ugly Betty I was attracted to this novel set in a fashion magazine. It didn't disappoint as Maggie began the maternity cover for Margot and was like a child in a sweet shop, not believing her good fortune with designer clothes, shoes etc, all hers for the taking (as long as she gives them back!).
The thriller aspect comes from a cyber-stalker who seems to know a lot about Margot and her past. The stalker begins to leave unwelcome comments on Maggie's social media, where they know Margot is following every step her temporary replacement is taking in her shoes.
The book is told from the perspective of Margot, then Maggie and then Winnie, who is Margot's childhood friend. Hearing the story told through each voice gave such depth to the story. Especially when Margot is bemoaning her figure whilst looking at Maggie's curves online, whilst Maggie is worried about her curves against the pre pregnancy figure of willow like Margot. All the nuances of social media insecurity are here and highlighted, although in truth they were always there just not publicised.
There is a fraught ending which had me re evaluating all I had previously read. I'm giving this book 5 out of 5 stars.
The thriller aspect comes from a cyber-stalker who seems to know a lot about Margot and her past. The stalker begins to leave unwelcome comments on Maggie's social media, where they know Margot is following every step her temporary replacement is taking in her shoes.
The book is told from the perspective of Margot, then Maggie and then Winnie, who is Margot's childhood friend. Hearing the story told through each voice gave such depth to the story. Especially when Margot is bemoaning her figure whilst looking at Maggie's curves online, whilst Maggie is worried about her curves against the pre pregnancy figure of willow like Margot. All the nuances of social media insecurity are here and highlighted, although in truth they were always there just not publicised.
There is a fraught ending which had me re evaluating all I had previously read. I'm giving this book 5 out of 5 stars.
February 12, 2020
This is definitely chick-lit. The first quarter of the book has our main character second guessing herself (and others) and imagining various scenarios. Nothing – at all – is happening, except in the imagination of our protagonist. And then … we turn the page to find out that she’s ruminating about what to tell her psychologist and imagining how her psychologist will respond.
I’m sure this book will have wide appeal, but just not my kind of book.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I’m sorry I couldn’t appreciate it more.
I’m sure this book will have wide appeal, but just not my kind of book.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I’m sorry I couldn’t appreciate it more.
April 26, 2020
Glamorous Margot Jones is the fashion editor at glossy magazine Haute. Pregnant with her first child, Margot’s carefully curated life is the object of other women’s envy—who wouldn’t want her successful career, loving husband, beautiful house, and stylish wardrobe?
Maggie, a freelance journalist, certainly knows she doesn’t measure up. But when she gets the temp job covering Margot’s maternity leave, Maggie seizes the chance to live a flashier life—even if it’s only for a few months.
But the simultaneous arrival of Margot’s baby and a brutal end to her oldest friendship sends Margot into a spiral of insecurity and suspicion; normal preoccupations of new motherhood turn into dark and frightening paranoia. Who is the vicious online troll mocking Margot’s facade of perfection and threatening to expose a dark secret she’s spent years concealing? Are Maggie’s newfound ambitions and plucky enthusiasm as innocent as they seem? And what happens when Margot is ready to return to her old life—especially if Maggie doesn’t want to leave?
My Thoughts: The themes in The New Girl take us on several different journeys. We first see, from Margot’s point of view, how Maggie, “the new girl” who is filling her position as fashion editor while she is on maternity leave, seems to be taking over her life completely. How does Maggie insert herself into Margot’s personal as well as her professional life, including taking over Margot’s past connections?
Winnie’s narrative takes us back to the past, to the beginning of her friendship with Margot, interrupted by another “new girl” when Helen appears and succeeds in sidelining Margot in the friendship. Then we watch as Winnie begins to view herself as a “new girl” when her relationship with Helen changes her into a different person. But then it takes a dangerous turn.
What secrets are holding Winnie and Margot together? How does Maggie’s intrusion change everything for them all? Is Margot paranoid about what is happening, or is something completely different afoot?
Just when I thought I had it all figured out, the conclusion brought stunning and unexpected revelations. An unputdownable book that earned 4.5 stars.
My e-ARC came from the publisher via NetGalley.
Maggie, a freelance journalist, certainly knows she doesn’t measure up. But when she gets the temp job covering Margot’s maternity leave, Maggie seizes the chance to live a flashier life—even if it’s only for a few months.
But the simultaneous arrival of Margot’s baby and a brutal end to her oldest friendship sends Margot into a spiral of insecurity and suspicion; normal preoccupations of new motherhood turn into dark and frightening paranoia. Who is the vicious online troll mocking Margot’s facade of perfection and threatening to expose a dark secret she’s spent years concealing? Are Maggie’s newfound ambitions and plucky enthusiasm as innocent as they seem? And what happens when Margot is ready to return to her old life—especially if Maggie doesn’t want to leave?
My Thoughts: The themes in The New Girl take us on several different journeys. We first see, from Margot’s point of view, how Maggie, “the new girl” who is filling her position as fashion editor while she is on maternity leave, seems to be taking over her life completely. How does Maggie insert herself into Margot’s personal as well as her professional life, including taking over Margot’s past connections?
Winnie’s narrative takes us back to the past, to the beginning of her friendship with Margot, interrupted by another “new girl” when Helen appears and succeeds in sidelining Margot in the friendship. Then we watch as Winnie begins to view herself as a “new girl” when her relationship with Helen changes her into a different person. But then it takes a dangerous turn.
What secrets are holding Winnie and Margot together? How does Maggie’s intrusion change everything for them all? Is Margot paranoid about what is happening, or is something completely different afoot?
Just when I thought I had it all figured out, the conclusion brought stunning and unexpected revelations. An unputdownable book that earned 4.5 stars.
My e-ARC came from the publisher via NetGalley.
April 4, 2020
The New Girl by Harriet Walker is a quick read about three women whose lives intertwine during a stressful period for each of them.
Built around the fashion world with trips to Milan, Paris and New York, at times the main concern of what to wear and who will see you seem a bit shallow, but it’s a lucrative and necessary evil.
When pregnant Margot picks the best choice for her maternity leave replacement, the tables are turned when young Maggie seems to be doing a much better job. Struggling with new motherhood, questioning the stability of her prestigious job when she returns to work, and going through the immense sadness of losing her best friend Winnie is taking their toll and causing Margot to question her own sanity.
At times slow with a loosely weaving plot, this is still an enjoyable read that kept my interest to the end.
(I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. Thank you to Ballantine and NetGalley for making it available.)
Built around the fashion world with trips to Milan, Paris and New York, at times the main concern of what to wear and who will see you seem a bit shallow, but it’s a lucrative and necessary evil.
When pregnant Margot picks the best choice for her maternity leave replacement, the tables are turned when young Maggie seems to be doing a much better job. Struggling with new motherhood, questioning the stability of her prestigious job when she returns to work, and going through the immense sadness of losing her best friend Winnie is taking their toll and causing Margot to question her own sanity.
At times slow with a loosely weaving plot, this is still an enjoyable read that kept my interest to the end.
(I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. Thank you to Ballantine and NetGalley for making it available.)
December 17, 2019
Maggie, Winnie and Margot life all changed at once. This is a story of the lives of three women, all taking a different turn. Their lives changed forever as each has their own fears that intertwined with one another. Winnie was Margot’s best friend until she lost her baby. Margot was pregnant and did not know why her best friend had turned away from their friendship. In addition to leave her high power job as an editor to a fashion magazine, Haute, Margot feared that she will be replaced by someone younger with fresher ideas. Maggie was girl who wanted a break to get into the fashion business. She tried to hard to step into Margot’s shoes and wanting to make something of herself. Her fear is not being good enough.
It was a sweet story of each woman’s fear. Characters were fully developed. However, I think the story dragged as each person described their fear. There were unnecessary parts of the story that made it hard to keep on reading at times.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
It was a sweet story of each woman’s fear. Characters were fully developed. However, I think the story dragged as each person described their fear. There were unnecessary parts of the story that made it hard to keep on reading at times.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 25, 2020
The over simplistic book blurb is that it’s “The Devil Wears Prada” meets “Single White Female” doesn’t begin to describe this 5 star debut. I found the mysterious backstory of the relationship between Margot & Winnie to be the soul of this thriller and the relationship of Margot & Maggie (who’s been brought in to cover for Margot during her maternity leave) the icing on the cake. Kudos to Harriet Walker who completely surprised me with the unexpected twists at the end!
May 11, 2020
A slow burning psychological thriller that delves into complicated female friendships and insecurities that plague all of us - no matter who we are or where we come from. I did not expect to like this book this much given the book started off rather slowly, but I enjoyed it a lot and was up late last night reading because I couldn’t go to bed without figuring out how it will all end.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.
June 23, 2021
Margot Jones is the fashion editor at a famous fashion magazine. She is pregnant with her first child. Margot's life is the envy of other women. She has a successful career, a beautiful home, gorgeous clothes, and a doting husband.
Maggie is a freelance journalist and is envious of Margot. She wishes that she can have Margot's life. When Margot offers Maggie the temp job of covering Margot's maternity leave, Maggie is excited. She knows the job is only for a few months but, she can't help but want more.
When Margot gives birth, her oldest friend decides to end their friendship. This causes her to feel insecure and suspicious of everyone. Margot eyes everything with paranoia especially, when an online troll starts a vicious attack on her. Margot's perfect facade starts to break and it might expose a dark secret she spent years keeping.
I thought this book was going to be a thriller and it turned out to be a completely pointless book. I honestly don't think this book needed to be published. There was nothing that made this book a thriller because the story line line was two women complaining and comparing each other to themselves. The story kept dragging on to the point where I wanted to throw the book into the trash. The ending was far fetched and seemed silly. The mastermind behind "everything" needed help and to face the consequences of their actions but, it was like they brushed it under the rug.
Maggie is a freelance journalist and is envious of Margot. She wishes that she can have Margot's life. When Margot offers Maggie the temp job of covering Margot's maternity leave, Maggie is excited. She knows the job is only for a few months but, she can't help but want more.
When Margot gives birth, her oldest friend decides to end their friendship. This causes her to feel insecure and suspicious of everyone. Margot eyes everything with paranoia especially, when an online troll starts a vicious attack on her. Margot's perfect facade starts to break and it might expose a dark secret she spent years keeping.
I thought this book was going to be a thriller and it turned out to be a completely pointless book. I honestly don't think this book needed to be published. There was nothing that made this book a thriller because the story line line was two women complaining and comparing each other to themselves. The story kept dragging on to the point where I wanted to throw the book into the trash. The ending was far fetched and seemed silly. The mastermind behind "everything" needed help and to face the consequences of their actions but, it was like they brushed it under the rug.
July 1, 2020
“The New Girl” heavily focuses on the theme of female friendships/jealousy. Can you really have one without the other.
Told from three perspectives, that of Margot, Maggie, and Winnie, “The New Girl “gives the reader the story of a high-powered fashion editor (Margot) who goes out on maternity leave and chooses Maggie to replace her in the interim. Margot is understandably fearful of how Maggie‘s presence will be received by her fashion magazine. Maggie, the new girl, is understandably fearful of the same.
Both Margo and Maggie grow to practically hate each other in this book, as can happen when the stakes are high in the competition is robust. How can Margot sit back and enjoy her maternity leave when I seemingly newer younger version of her is now sitting at her desk and becoming friends with her staff.
Same for Margo and Winnie. How can they maintain a friendship when one woman has what the other woman so unexpectedly, undeservedly lost.
The author sets up the present story by weaving in chapters featuring young Margot and Winnie. Again, jealousy occupies a major chunk of this female friendship, As does the imposition of a “new girl”.
I really liked the writing style. There was enough description to keep me involved, but not too much to kickstart my skim mode. I loved the story. It was realistic and timely.
Told from three perspectives, that of Margot, Maggie, and Winnie, “The New Girl “gives the reader the story of a high-powered fashion editor (Margot) who goes out on maternity leave and chooses Maggie to replace her in the interim. Margot is understandably fearful of how Maggie‘s presence will be received by her fashion magazine. Maggie, the new girl, is understandably fearful of the same.
Both Margo and Maggie grow to practically hate each other in this book, as can happen when the stakes are high in the competition is robust. How can Margot sit back and enjoy her maternity leave when I seemingly newer younger version of her is now sitting at her desk and becoming friends with her staff.
Same for Margo and Winnie. How can they maintain a friendship when one woman has what the other woman so unexpectedly, undeservedly lost.
The author sets up the present story by weaving in chapters featuring young Margot and Winnie. Again, jealousy occupies a major chunk of this female friendship, As does the imposition of a “new girl”.
I really liked the writing style. There was enough description to keep me involved, but not too much to kickstart my skim mode. I loved the story. It was realistic and timely.
June 20, 2020
Who is The New Girl? Is it Maggie, the girl who takes over Haute fashion editor Margot's position during her maternity leave? Is it Margot's new baby girl? Or is it the wisp of a memory, the classmate who almost torched the friendship of Margot and her best friend Winnie when they were 16 - to dire consequences?
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 because most of this novel can only be described at taut - taut with tension, longing, jealousy, rage, grief. Female friendships become complicated as our characters navigate careers, children, husbands and unexpected loss.
What I loved - The New Girl highlighted how much we can live inside our own heads, making things bigger, worse, more dangerous with our thinking than they actually are.
What I did not love - the ending. Not only were there too few clues as to what may happen, but the friendship angle of the 3 women was tied up too comfortably. The thoughts these women have towards one another vacillate so far from one end to the other, it could not have settled the way it did. The bow tied too neatly.
Thank you Netgalley for this preview of a novel that kept me at the edge of my seat until (almost) the very end.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 because most of this novel can only be described at taut - taut with tension, longing, jealousy, rage, grief. Female friendships become complicated as our characters navigate careers, children, husbands and unexpected loss.
What I loved - The New Girl highlighted how much we can live inside our own heads, making things bigger, worse, more dangerous with our thinking than they actually are.
What I did not love - the ending. Not only were there too few clues as to what may happen, but the friendship angle of the 3 women was tied up too comfortably. The thoughts these women have towards one another vacillate so far from one end to the other, it could not have settled the way it did. The bow tied too neatly.
Thank you Netgalley for this preview of a novel that kept me at the edge of my seat until (almost) the very end.
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