Review: The Girl on the Train

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Oh my goodness! This book was so crazy good that I was able to finish it in one sitting (and in between watching Olympic competitions). First of all, I honestly had no idea was to expect when I first started reading this. When the characters were first introduced, I thought all of them were horrible people. This actually made it easier for me to feel completely indifferent when all these terrible things start happening to them (what goes around comes around, I guess).

The story is told from three different women's points of view, all extremely untrustworthy as the reader will understand as the plot unfolds:
(view spoiler)[
Rachel: the alcoholic and crazy stalker that thinks what she saw on the train in one of her early morning rides can help the police find a missing woman
Megan: the missing woman who was also involved in multiple affairs
Anna: actually probably one of the most decently normal ones in this plot; mother of a newborn; new wife to Rachel's ex-husband

These three women all have one thing in common: their obsession with being liked and garnering the attention of men around them. Rachel is still in love with her ex-husband of over two years who cheated on her and constantly stalks around their house. In order to keep herself from "being lonely", Rachel turns to alcohol and blacks out almost every single night. This makes it hard for the detectives in the case to believe her testimonies because she was deemed as an unreliable source. Megan was first introduced as a woman who was unsatisfied with the current state of her life. But as you learn more about her, you discover that she also has some serious mental and psychological issues. For example, she has a loving (and paranoid) husband who she cheats on with multiple men and eventually becomes pregnant. Anna is similar to Megan in that she also feels the need to be wanted by men; additionally, she also lies to the police about Rachel in order to put herself above her throughout the case.

Oh and the best part of the story? They all entangle themselves with the same man who later ended up murdering Megan.
(hide spoiler)]

Why this book is a must-read:
1. It will literally change your perspective on how people interact and their true intentions. This book definitely did not hold back. It provides very dark and realistic thoughts that haunt the minds of insecure people. (view spoiler)[ "Is he cheating on me with his ex? How dare he compare me with Fat Rachel!" (hide spoiler)]
2. I loved the pace of this novel! Like Gone Girl, this was one of those books where it almost became impossible to put down until you got to the end. The writing was gripping and each chapter and POV changed kept me wanting to find out what the hell happened to Megan.

Why this book got four instead of five stars:
(view spoiler)[ Uncovering Tom's murder was very thrilling and pretty satisfying. However, I didn't like how he basically decided to blab his entire plan and his confirmation in Megan murder right in front of Rachel and Anna. I mean, for a lying murderer, he's pretty stupid. It just felt completely out-of-character just so the author can find a good way to end the book. (hide spoiler)]

I recommend this book to all mystery and thriller fans, especially if you enjoy Gillian Flynn's works.

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