"The Girl in the Window”, by Diana Wilkinson begins with Izzy in a cafe watching a man meeting with his supposed lover and their child. The man is her husband. That’s only the beginning of the wild turns which are more than plentiful in this fun and twisty psychological thriller. I try not to compare authors, but it’s worth mentioning here that it has a similar feel to Freida McFadden, and I mean that in the best possible way. They’re always so much fun to read, often with an interesting protagonist who doesn’t quite grasp what’s going on until it’s too late—this one by Wilkinson is no different in that respect.

Although she isn’t the best quality person, I was able to empathize with Izzy and her many quirks, identifying with her in some respects, but she was truly a crazy individual and exactly the kind of character I like reading about. The more you learn about her past you understand why she is the way she is, and the way the story is told works so well for this kind of thriller. It’s fun to read books like this where you aren’t given all the details in the beginning and your own understanding of the situation evolves just as the story does which feels like a lot of mental gymnastics.

I also always like a good story which takes place in a coffee house or cafe. I myself frequent these places often, and have an inner dialogue about what some of the other patrons’ lives are like. While I don’t think I could’ve thought one up like this, it was as though I were reading such a story in novel form which was an absolute delight!

I loved this novel and as it’s the first by this author I’ve got the feeling I’ll be snatching up her other titles as well. I gave “The Girl in the Window” an easy 5 out of 5 stars.

I can honestly say I didn't see these twists coming. (no spoilers I promise!). Book was very well written and I can't wait to read more in future. Recommended for anyone who loves a good read that keeps you glued, entertained and reading until the very end!
TB

A proper page turner
An excellent and gripping read. I was sucked straight into the story as soon as I stated it. It’s be of those books you keep thinking of and want to get back to reading it.
The twists and red herrings are scattered artfully and I’ve just bought my mum a copy!

Do you like to people watch? Izzy likes to sit in her favorite coffee house and watch the woman across the street. Izzy makes up a life for the woman even though she has never meet her. Eventually Izzy comes to find out the woman has some secrets that involve her.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC and to the publisher Boldwood Books.

Not bad if you like a popcorn thriller, especially a domestic thriller. This is my first book by this author. I thought the premise was intriguing. A woman named Izzy, writes an advice column called “Dear Bella” for a magazine. Every day she sits in her favorite coffee house while she writes. Across the street she watches a woman and her son in their apartment and imagines who she is, what kind of person she is, and what her relationship is with “the man” who frequently visits her. Only, she knows the man. He’s her husband. Convinced her husband is having an affair and that he must be the child’s father, she sets out to find out what is really going on. She starts to write made-up letters to her own advice column. Stories that imitate her own life from fake people seeking advice about a cheating husband, all the while knowing that her husband may be reading them.

Unfortunately, the characters are not very likeable and the story just wasn’t exciting enough to keep me interested. Told from Izzy’s POV only, it seems to read like Izzy is a crazy jealous wife because it’s never clear her husband was doing anything other than visiting this woman. I won’t give anymore away than that. I’ll just say that this story was anti-climatic and the twists fell short for me. Please read others reviews as I may an outlier here.

I’m giving this book 3 wine glasses 🍷🍷🍷

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the chance to review this arc in exchange for my honest review. Available now.

This book didn’t just keep me entertained—it made me hyper-aware of my surroundings, like I, too, was watching someone from a café window. The concept itself is deliciously unsettling: a woman observing a seemingly ordinary couple, slowly piecing together their secrets… until the gut-punch reveal that the man is her own husband. That moment had me reeling.

What I loved most about The Girl in the Window was how it made me question every character’s version of the truth. The narrator’s voice pulled me in, dripping with quiet intensity, and I found myself leaning in closer, analyzing every detail alongside her. Was she a victim? An unreliable observer? Or something far more dangerous? The slow-burn suspense built perfectly, twisting my expectations until I had no idea who to trust.

By the time I reached the ending, I wasn’t just surprised—I was shocked. The kind of shock that makes you close the book, stare at the wall, and process what just happened. If you love psychological thrillers that make you feel like a detective, watching and waiting for the moment everything clicks into place, The Girl in the Window is a must-read. Just be warned—you’ll never look at café people-watching the same way again.

I love Diana Wilkinson and her thrillers - she's another "must read" author for me. That being said, this one was a 3.5 star read that I'm rounding up to 4 stars. One of the reasons I took half of a star off due to the scene wherein the narrator witnessed her husband getting injured, early in the book, and not feeling compelled to do anything about it.

The narrator sits at a local cafe each morning to watch her husband. One morning she notices him approaching a house where a woman answers the door and a young boy flies into his arms.

That moment hooked me—and like the narrator, I was desperate to know who the woman and child were, and what secrets her husband was hiding. The slow unraveling of past and present had me turning pages, and while I didn’t love every decision the main character made, the tension kept me locked in. Diana Wilkinson always delivers a twisty, atmospheric ride, and this one definitely gave me that creeping, "what is going on?!" feeling I crave in a thriller.

Thank you NetGalley, Diana Wilkinson, and Boldwood Books for gifting me a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This had a really neat premise but the story didn’t live up to the potential, in my opinion. Personally, these characters just didn’t make sense to me. Their dynamic was off, despite Izzy’s constant declarations that they had a perfect marriage. I was confused by many of the things Izzy did and didn’t do and found her behavior to just not be realistic. I did enjoy that there were short, fast-moving chapters and the secondary mystery involving Jed’s mom was interesting to me. Ultimately, the book ended rather abruptly and with many questions still left unanswered.

A very interesting, intriguing roller coaster guessing game type book.

Very interesting and kept me interested

Definitely worth the read and would recommend

Thank you NetGalley for the copy

This is a first time read for me by this author. It is a gripping psychological drama that delves into the complexities of observation, secrecy, and the choices we make in relationships. Izzy's daily ritual of watching her husband from a distance—unaware that she holds the key to a deep, unsettling truth—sets the stage for a tense and thrilling narrative. The story is compelling in its portrayal of voyeurism, the need for control, and the haunting consequences of knowing too much. As Izzy wrestles with her knowledge and her emotions, the tension between what she knows and what she chooses to reveal creates a captivating atmosphere. The story kept me on the edge of my seat, anxious to see what happens next. This an engaging read filled with mystery and drama and I look forward to reading more by this author.

I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and Boldwood Books and am voluntarily leaving my review.

This was an intense, emotional and gripping book! It started off with intrigue and didn’t let up throughout the book. Twists and turns kept the story progressing and moving at a fast pace.

I really enjoyed The Girl in the Window. It had enough twists and turns to keep me interested but not too many that it became farfetched. It was well paced with short chapters which was great as you can read just one more chapter and before you know it another hour has passed!

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for my ARC.

I found this book just ok. It was interesting figuring out the story, but the teeny twist was just ok. I didn’t really like the main character especially at the end where she’s even more manipulative.

I enjoyed this book but found it to be a bit far fetched. I stuck with it to see how it would play out. Well paced story.

Wow what a read with twists and turns. Loved how this unfolded and it kept me gripped the whole way through. Would recommend this title.

I was intrigued by this book immediately. With short chapters, which I love, full of lies and deceit this one hit the spot.
The first book I've read by this author but I will be looking out for more.
Overall, a gripping psychological thriller.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for my honest review

I'm sorry to say that I was disappointed by this book and to be honest I struggled to finish it. I thought the idea of someone watching her husband day after day with another woman and a young child but saying nothing about it to him was just too far fetched. I just couldn't bring myself to care whether he was having an affair or whatever. This was the first book I have read by this author and I don't know if I would be bothered trying another.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book

I can't recommend it enough! I really enjoyed this book, I couldn't put it down, I finished it in a couple of days!

I found this to be a gripping read and it kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. There are many twists within this book which added to the drama and I was never sure when the next was coming. However, I did not like how this is written, there are plot developments that are not explained and Wilkinson just shoves them into the middle of the plot. A lot of the time I was thinking how has Izzy had time to do this, when has this happened, it detracted from the flow of the plot.
For the most part I did enjoy this and there are exciting twists as I have said.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advance copy.

A wonderful example of a well written psychological thriller. Excellent storytelling, well thought out characters, a few twists and turns thrown in, a great addition to the genre.