The Girl on the Train

by Paula Hawkins, Paula Hawkins

336 pages

English language

Published July 12, 2016 by Riverhead Books.

ISBN:: 978-1-59463-402-4

(23 reviews)

The Girl on the Train is a 2015 psychological thriller novel by British author Paula Hawkins that gives narratives from three different women about relationship troubles (caused by three coercive/controlling men) and, for the main protagonist, alcoholism. The novel debuted in the number one spot on The New York Times Fiction Best Sellers of 2015 list (print and e-book) dated 1 February 2015, and remained in the top position for 13 consecutive weeks, until April 2015. In January 2016 it became the #1 best-seller again for two weeks. Many reviews referred to the book as "the next Gone Girl", referring to a popular 2012 psychological mystery, by author Gillian Flynn, with similar themes that used unreliable narrators.By early March, less than two months after its release, the novel had sold over one million copies, and an additional half million by April. It occupied the #1 spot of the UK hardback book chart for 20 weeks, the longest any book has ever held the top spot. By early August, the book had sold more than three million copies in the U.S. alone, and, by October 2016, an estimated 20 million copies worldwide. By the time of the release of Hawkins' third novel, the book had sold an estimated 23 million copies worldwide. The audiobook edition, released by Books on Tape, was narrated by Clare Corbett, Louise Brealey and India Fisher. It won the 2016 Audie Award for "Audiobook of the Year".The film rights were acquired before the book was even published, in 2014, by DreamWorks Pictures for Marc Platt Productions. The American film adaptation, starring Emily Blunt and directed by Tate Taylor, was released on 7 October 2016.

14 editions

Soubhagya reviewed The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

Review of 'The Girl on the Train' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

The girl on the train is a thriller centered around a murder. The narration is captivating. The author also does a decent job is building the story from the points of view of three characters. I like the way the characters of Anna and Megan are built over time. One can find the reason of their current behavior from their past experiences.

The story is narrated by three female characters. The protagonist Rachel is an alcohol addict. Her alcohol addiction has cost her marriage and job. Even after losing her job, she continues to commute to her workplace daily via train. Even after getting divorced, she continues to call her ex-spouse. Her ex-husband Tom is now married to Anna. Anna is the second narrator who is very opportunistic and self-centered. During her commutes, Rachel observes a couple and assumes them of having perfect married life. Rachel names them Jason and Jess whose real names are Scott and Megan respectively. Megan is the third narrator of the story. Megan is carefree and promiscuous. Megan works as a nanny in Tom's household for a brief period. While you find the female characters in grey zone, you will find the male ones in dark zone. Tom is a very selfish and manipulative person. The only thing that he cares for is having sex. Scott is shown as a overtly possessive and abusive person. The author builds the female characters and explains the reason of their eccentricities. The same effort is not spent on the male characters. The plot is built around the murder of Megan.

tivasyk reviewed The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

Review of 'The Girl on the Train' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

вагався між 4 та 5, але нехай вже, буду поблажливим: трилер непоганий, попри певну схильність авторки змальовувати жінок дещо інфантильними істеричками з купою комплексів замість мізків, а чоловіків… читайте, втім :-)

Rob Warner reviewed The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

Review of 'The Girl on the Train' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

I was a little lost at the outset of this book, and found myself flipping pages backward to figure out what day things were happening, how the pieces fit the big picture, what was going on, and why was I reading this anyway? After a bit, though, it all came together and was gripping through the denouement. Seeing inside the heads of so many characters and seeing the same events through so many points of view was amazing.

Kadomi reviewed The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

Review of 'The Girl on the Train' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

Best thriller I have read since Gone Girl, with the one difference that it was way more predictable. I was able to pick out the villain from a mile away. Despite that flaw, I really enjoyed it.

Acton reviewed The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

Review of 'The Girl on the Train' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

(How did I manage to delete my review?)

I liked this novel, though I also have mixed feelings about it. The story is told by three very unreliable narrators named Rachel, Megan, and Anna. It is cleverly paced, but still, in the end there are a couple things I still wonder about. (This will make for an interesting discussion, anyway.) There is a climatic scene at the end that doesn't seem to be written in a way that fits with the rest of the book, in my opinion.

The only character I found truly sympathetic was Rachel, despite the fact that she made me cringe and stressed me out. Both main male characters are abusive jerks, and the third guy isn't much, either. Comparisons with Gone Girl are inevitable, but this is a much different plot. I do recommend it.