The Girl on the Train

The Girl on the Train by Hawkins Paula

Book review by Chavan Sakshi Gorakhnath SYMHMCT Student MSIHMCT Pune

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins is a psychological thriller about a woman named Rachel, who is dealing with a messy divorce and struggles with alcoholism. Every day, she takes the same train into London, passing a house where a couple, Megan and Scott, live. Rachel imagines their life is perfect until one day, she sees them on the porch, and a few days later, Megan goes missing. As the story unfolds, Rachel gets more involved in the mystery, and the reader is left questioning what’s true and what’s not.

The book is told from three different viewpoints: Rachel, Megan, and Anna, the woman with whom Rachel’s ex-husband is now living. Each of these women has a unique perspective on the events, and this keeps the story interesting and suspenseful. Since Rachel has memory gaps because of her drinking problem, we aren’t always sure if she’s telling the truth, which makes the story even more intriguing. We also learn more about Megan’s secret past and how she might be connected to Rachel in unexpected ways.

Rachel, the main character, is not easy to like at times because of her mistakes and poor decisions. However, this makes her a more real and relatable character. She’s often confused and uncertain, which makes us question everything we’re reading. Megan, on the other hand, seems like she has everything together, but we soon learn she is hiding a lot of pain and trauma. Anna, who is introduced as Rachel’s ex-husband’s new partner, brings in a sense of betrayal and adds to the tension.

The story moves quickly, and the author keeps the suspense building with short chapters and surprising twists. Just when you think you understand what’s going on, something unexpected happens that changes everything. This makes the book hard to put down.

At its core, The Girl on the Train is about how secrets, lies, and trauma affect people’s lives and relationships. It shows how sometimes we see things through a distorted lens, and how hard it is to trust ourselves or others when we’re in a difficult place. The book explores themes of love, betrayal, and the consequences of not facing the truth.

While the plot is exciting and full of twists, some readers might find the characters a bit frustrating at times, especially Rachel. Her actions can feel repetitive, and the plot sometimes relies on dramatic twists that may seem a little unrealistic.

In conclusion, The Girl on the Train is a fast-paced, thrilling book that keeps you hooked with its twists and turns. It’s a great read for anyone who loves a mystery with deep, complicated characters and themes about truth and trust.