The Girl on the Train

by Paula Hawkins
The Girl on the Train cover
Good Books rating 3.25
Psychological Thriller
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Waterstones
Paperback • £9.99–£10.99
Amazon
Format/Price Check
Technical
  • ID: 1208
  • Added: 2025-10-01
  • Updated: 2026-01-05
  • ISBN: 9781784161101
  • Publisher: Random House
  • Published: 2016-01-01
  • Formats: 28
  • Reviews: 4

Rachel Watson, haunted by her own demons, becomes obsessed with a seemingly perfect couple she observes daily from her commuter train. Her life takes a dramatic turn when she witnesses something shocking, drawing her into a web of deceit and danger. As she becomes entangled in the lives of those she's only watched from afar, Rachel must confront her own issues and the dark secrets that surround her. The Girl on the Train is a gripping psychological thriller that explores the blurred lines between observation and obsession, reality and perception.

Reviews
The Baking Nutritionist · 2025-10-01
engaging 4.00

This book is a page-turner that will keep you up at night, making it hard to put down. It's a gripping read that captivates from start to finish.

The reviewer found this book to be incredibly engaging, describing it as a page-turner that is hard to put down. They mention staying up late to finish it, highlighting its compelling nature. The story's ability to captivate readers is praised, making it a must-read for those who enjoy thrilling narratives.

Quick quotes

    A gripping read from start to finish

    This book will have you turning pages long after you should be gone to sleep

    It's a must-read for those who enjoy thrilling narratives

Sammi Cox's Blog · Sammi Cox · 2019-03-11
compelling 4.00

The book is gripping and compelling but falls short due to some aspects that felt unnecessary. It's a strong read with a few flaws.

Sammi Cox found the book to be gripping and compelling, praising its ability to keep readers engaged. However, they felt that some elements were unnecessary and detracted from the overall experience. Despite these flaws, they acknowledged the book's strength in storytelling and its ability to hold attention. The reviewer appreciated the narrative but wished for a more streamlined plot.

Quick quotes

    This was definitely a gripping and compelling read

    It was filled, in my opinion, with wholly unnecessary elements

    The book has a strong narrative that holds attention

Lectito · Lectito · 2015-06-11
mixed 3.00

The reviewer found the book to be flawed with an unreliable narrator and unappealing character dynamics. Despite these criticisms, they acknowledge the book's popular appeal.

In this review, Lectito critiques 'The Girl on the Train' for its unreliable narrator and the unappealing dynamics between characters, particularly the jealous and petty conflicts. They find these elements to be problematic and detract from the overall reading experience. However, they recognize that the book has a wide appeal and understand why it has been so popular among readers. Lectito's review is balanced, acknowledging both the strengths and weaknesses of the novel.

Quick quotes

    The thing is, it's totally possible to take all the elements I've thoroughly criticised here—unreliable narrator, jealous bitch fights

    The book has a wide appeal and understand why it has been so popular among readers

    These elements are problematic and detract from the overall reading experience

Bookish Ramblings · 2015-02-15
disappointing 2.00

The protagonist was found to be self-pitying and irritating, making her tragically unrelatable for the most part.

The reviewer from Bookish Ramblings found the protagonist, Rachel, to be self-pitying and irritating, which made her difficult to relate to. This lack of relatability impacted their overall enjoyment of the book. Despite this, they acknowledged the book's compelling aspects, such as its suspenseful plot and the way it keeps readers engaged. However, the negative portrayal of the main character overshadowed these elements for them.

Quick quotes

    With The Girl on the Train I simply found Rachel to be self-pitying, irritating, and tragically unrelatable.

    For the most part, I was just disappointed with the character development.

    The book has compelling aspects, but the negative portrayal of the main character overshadowed these for me.

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