I've had my eye on this book for ages. I heard so many people raving about it and thankfully, managed to avoid all spoilers. I was so excited to finally read it and it sucked me in immediately.

Rachel rides the train every morning and evening and passes by the same places. She sees the same couple every day and makes up names (Jess and Jason) and a story for them. She builds an entire fantasy around this perfect couple and she envies their perfect lives. A life like the one she used to have.

Rachel is an alcoholic who drinks to the point of blacking out and forgets chunks of memories. She stumbles home and wakes up the next morning unable to recall how she got there or what she did the night before.

Her husband cheated on her, divorced her, remarried and started a family with Anna, the woman he was cheating with. To add insult to injury, Rachel was forced to leave her home because her husband is now living there with his new family. Sad and lonely and very much unable to let go, Rachel continues to call and send messages to her ex husband. Usually after she's had far too much to drink.

At first I felt bad for Rachel and for her situation, but as the story progressed, I started to like her less and less. I also began to notice that every character in this book was messed up and twisted in some way. When Rachel witnesses something from the train, she decides to go to the police, but no one wants to take her seriously. And for good reason.

This story alternates between Rachel, Anna and Megan. Megan is Jess' real name. The "mystery" was not surprising to me at all. Not because I figured out who did what from page one, but because the author could have thrown a dart at a list of character names, picked any character at random and I don't think I would have been surprised, simply because they were all so messed up in their own different ways.

I was impressed by the writing. The story itself is interesting, well done and full of twists and mystery to keep you guessing. Just don't expect to fall in love with any of the characters.

Good Read!