Ruth Ware fans, what did you think of "The It Girl"? I liked it!

Submitted by diamondeyes7 t3_10isyfv in books

I haven't been as impressed by Ruth Ware lately (I thought "One by One" was rather meh), but I enjoyed this book. "The Woman in Cabin 10" and "In Dark Dark Wood" are my favorites of her, but I'm also probably one of the few that also enjoyed "The Death of Mrs. Westway" 😂, although it's not my favorite. I hated "The Lying Game", and I haven't read "Turn of The Key". I would rank this one around "The Death of Mrs. Westway", not the best, but re-readable.

The good: >!I enjoyed reading the book and was genuinely shocked at the twists at the end. (1) Hugh was the killer and (2) he cheated his way into Oxford! I was thinking it was Will about mid-way through the book, and even when it was reveal Hugh was the killer, I thought he and Will were working together.!<

The bad:>! Both Hannah and April were one-dimensional and Hannah was pretty boring. I also thought the groups should have been at least in their early 30s. 28 seemed way too young. Setting it in their early 30s would have made more sense for their stages of life (especially with Hugh being a successful surgeon, living in such a grand home...) and it would have given a greater sense at how much everyone had grown apart.!<

>!I also don't understand why Will cruelly laughed at Hannah when she asked him if he killed April. I understand how it was a plot device designed to get Hannah scared and run away to Hugh. But it seemed so sloppy and unlike Will's character. But I don't have a suggestion for how it could have been improved either. !<

I would say if the synopsis of the book interests you, I would recommend "The Hunting Party" by Lucy Foley. Totally different mystery and way of writing! Each character is fleshed out and adds to the story. But sort of similar about a group of friends who met at Oxford, who have grown apart after college. I highly recommend it!

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surfergrl89 t1_j5gtjau wrote

I don’t think Will was laughing cruelly. I think he was laughing incredulously and was DONE with Hannah’s bullshit (much as I was already by that point good lord).

From his POV his pregnant wife not only REPEATEDLY purposely risks the health of their unborn baby, she keeps poking his trauma and now is accusing him of murder.

And since Hannah is a total idiot (I swear to god smdh) she misconstrues it.

Anyway, this book was very well written but ultimately a disappointment. Most of the cliches I can forgive. But I’m over authors trying to make me care for “complicated” (read bitch bullies) girls like April being murdered, and dumbass doormat girls like Hannah hung up for a decade on the murder of their bully.

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BORGQUEEN177 t1_j5gbc0s wrote

Honestly I didn’t care for it. I didn’t care for the characters so couldn’t really care for what happened to them. So much angst kinda gets on my nerves. To me Ruth Ware is the new Mary Higgins Clark. Some good stuff at the beginning now not so much.

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diamondeyes7 OP t1_j5gc5fp wrote

>Some good stuff at the beginning now not so much.

Like Riley Sager lol

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surfergrl89 t1_j5gttya wrote

Which books of her are “the good stuff”? It Girl is my first book. I like how well written it is, but, like you, could give less of a shit for the two dislikable lead characters.

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BORGQUEEN177 t1_j5gw8c2 wrote

I didn’t mind the Death of Mrs. Westaway. There’s another one that I can’t think of the title. I find when your characters are so shallow it’s hard to be invested. Hannah was just nothing but a wet Kleenex. Overall, she is not an author I seek out. I see her as an author to read on a plane and, and then leave the book in the airport for someone else. This one was recommended to me and I won’t be taking that friend’s recommendations any more.

I think I’m pretty much over the lead character being a female who doesn’t have her shit together or never grows as a person. Probably just me.

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surfergrl89 t1_j5ijgg3 wrote

Totally same. I’m over the trope of female character who doesn’t have her shit together, and even more over the wayyyy overused trope of murdered popular female character who was a bitch to everyone and totally deserved to die, but post modern feminist lit begs you to think otherwise. This character archetype has exhausted my empathy.

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wenamedthecatindiana t1_j5guzvo wrote

Not the OP but my favorites by her are the Turn of the Key and the Death of Mrs Westaway.

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UcancallmeAllison t1_j5gktcx wrote

I'm reading it right now, actually. I'm not crazy about her novels, but seem to end up buying them often anyway, lol. They're dependable & nice during winter.

At the halfway point, I'm enjoying it much more than Mrs. Westaway. For me, that & the Lying Game are at the bottom.

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wildflowerafternoon t1_j5he4sr wrote

I really really disliked this book. The woman in Cabin 10 by her is a great novel. I could NOT put that one down.

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SourceOwn9222 t1_j5i0qww wrote

Ummmm, I like Ruth Ware and I read it this year and . . . I remember nothing about it. Probably not a good sign.

EDIT: I went back to my review and remember it. I didn’t like the time changes, but I thought that the present tense story was good. I was annoyed by the pregnancy. But. Not her best, not her worst. I still prefer her to Lucy Foyle.

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[deleted] t1_j5hkxs0 wrote

I thoroughly enjoyed it! It was a “slow paced” thriller, and I liked the switches between the past and the present. I was caught up a lot in wondering where it was all going that I didn’t necessarily pick the ending, but I loved how it was right there in front of you the whole time.

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floppyjoe714 t1_j5hneqp wrote

I can't resist a good Oxford-set story but Hannah was unbearable. The only good thing I have to say about her is that at least the baby was in her body (and therefore unable to be a character) unlike the baby in the Lying Game. I generally like Lucy Foley better than Ruth Ware - although I did enjoy Turn of the Key. The main lead female character is slightly less pathetic.

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diamondeyes7 OP t1_j5hnm4z wrote

I might have to read Turn of the Key, I wasn't impressed by the synopsis, but I can get it at the library lol

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floppyjoe714 t1_j5hvwb4 wrote

I also enjoyed Turn of the Screw and Haunting of Bly Manor so it may just be me enjoying comparing those adaptations.

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Eeeegah t1_j5hs0lf wrote

I thought her debut novel (In a Dark Dark Wood) was genius. Solidly mediocre since then.

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RemoteControlled-Cat t1_j5iduuk wrote

I loved the Hunting Party so great recommendation.

I will come back to this thread with more details. How do I do that “remind me “ thing?

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v_a_n_d_e_l_a_y t1_j5h4epb wrote

It was my first Ruth Ware book.

It was solid and enjoyable and I will read more of her stuff probably.

It didn't blow me away like some mystery/thrillers do.

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Maleficent-Radish-86 t1_j5hrl4n wrote

I got it because so many people raved about it… I didn’t even make it half way thru before I returned to the library.

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KingofOoooo t1_j5hykeu wrote

Yeah, I’m a fan of Ware, but I did not like The It Girl. It felt way too long and the end was predictable and uninteresting in my opinion.

I know a lot of fans liked it though, so glad it was good for you!

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sbailey72 t1_j5i7k9h wrote

I really liked it too, as well as the narration by Imogen Church for the audio book.

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