The Three Musketeers


I don’t think I have finished a thriller like this in one sitting. Harriet Walker weaves a tale of three women whose lives are bound by grief, insecurities, and fear of what’s to come. If you combine that with the baggage, we carry from our past then you will get a sense of what these women went through. 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. They met on a trip and Margot feels that Maggie will fill her position well.

Maggie on the other hand is a free lance writer who gives the reader the impression that she is living pay check to paycheck and that this maternity leave job is her best chance at living her best life. Even though this was supposed to be a year long job that Maggie does not want to give up. Part of this book that was intriguing for me as a reader was that Maggie and Margot both felt like to me, they both wanted what the other one had. After reading this I have to say that the grass may not always be greener on the other side.

Now, I did mention three women so let me talk about the last piece of this friendly equation Winnie. Winnie is Margot’s oldest friend. They have known each-other for a long time and Margot and Winnie were inseparable until the death of Winnie’s new born son Jack. It fractures there friendship to the point that I felt that it was repairable.

Honestly this is one of the best thrillers I have read in the last few days. I have already recommended it to my best friend and a few others and can not wait to see what comes next from Ms. Walker. Honestly, I was on pins and needles regarding the safety of Margot and her baby especially things took a dark turn and I was unsure what was going to happen. Thank you Netgalley and all parties involved for my arc of this book it was a joy to read and review.
( )

This is a brilliant book, that has left me still smiling! It features the joys and the worries every woman who has ever been pregnant will lap it up like a dog.

This book had it ALL from Grief, Jealousy, Envy, Happiness, Friendships that come and go, Secret Keeping, Mystery, Suspense and Anger. Beautifully written that captivated me from the start!

At first, I was thinking this book reminded me of “A Devil Wears Prada.” It’s regarding a fashion editor to Haute Magazine, whom is pregnant who has to pick her replacement to work while she is on maternity leave for 1 year, as this story is based in London. I know as a US mom, I was incredibly envious they are given that full year!

Her replacement is younger, single, bright and so much fun to be around. While showing you the ends and outs of the industry!

But this book is NOT about the fashion industry. Halfway, through the book it caught me off guard and I even talked out loud to the book, because of the curveball I didn’t foresee.

This book focuses on showing the raw emotions of becoming a mother, in every aspect.

Terrific fast read, I highly recommend! Thank you to #netgalley, #BallantineBooks and #TheNewGirl for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. ( )

Oh, I read this over the new year and forgot to comment.

The coolest aspect of this was the social media and the look at how effective a like or a lack thereof can be at sending a message of some sort. I wish we had had a tad more insight into Winnie's pushing Margot away after the death. Otherwise, these characters and their motivations were well crafted and it was easy to take everyone's side and get into their heads about how they were feeling as the story went on. ( )

Women know that in spite of all the advances they have made toward professional equality, they still risk falling behind by taking maternity leave. Margot is terrified she will find herself replaced in her much-loved and high-power job editing a leading fashion magazine. She helps pick her stand-in, someone she thinks will be grateful and loyal. But is The New Girl really loyal?

She loved sharing her pregnancy with her best friend Winnie. Sadly, Winnie’s boy is born stillborn. She doesn’t want to talk to Margot, refuses all contact, but sends her a picture of the dead baby. Margot is devastated for her friend and feels guilty when her beautiful baby girl is born. Now someone is harassing her with hostile messages, referencing a nightmarish incident from high school, an incident that cemented her relationship with Winnie, perhaps in an unhealthy way.

I enjoyed The New Girl though her fear and guilt about the past seem disproportionate to the event. However, I ascribed it to hormones. Despite the break down between Margot and Winnie and her increasing distrust of Maggie, this really is a story about friendship more than it’s a thriller. There is true jeopardy, but forgiveness and friendship remain the heart of the story.

I received an e-galley of The New Girl from the publisher through NetGalley.

The New Girl at Ballantine Books | Penguin Random House

Harriet Walker on Twitter

https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpress.com/2020/06/14/the-new-girl-by-harriet-w... ( )

bailed @ 25% 2:26:42—It's too negative and whiny. Maybe I'm just not in the mood. More likely, I just don't want to read another book where women are competing, not mentoring/supporting each other.