Review: The Girl on the Train

By: Paula Hawkins

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The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins is a psychological thriller that pulls you in with an intense storyline. Rachel, a lonely commuter, becomes fixated on a couple she watches from her train window each morning. She’s created a fantasy about their perfect life, until she sees something shocking one day. Soon, she’s pulled into a dark mystery that changes everything.

The novel is filled with mystery and suspense, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as each piece of the puzzle slowly falls into place. Hawkins’ writing is strong, creating an atmosphere with crafted twists and a pace that builds tension. The story is told through three different characters, which helps you see events from multiple perspectives. However, there’s a similarity in the voices of the narrators that sometimes makes it challenging to tell them apart.

One issue that held me back from fully enjoying the story was the characters themselves. They’re flawed and complex, which makes sense for a psychological thriller, but I struggled to connect with any of them. When the big reveal finally happened, it did surprise me, but I was not invested in what it meant for the characters. Without characters you can root for—or at least understand deeply—the suspenseful plot loses some of its power.

Hawkins does a realistic job portraying Rachel’s struggle with alcoholism. We see how it impacts her choices and her relationships. But while this theme is touched on, it felt like we were only getting the surface, skimming over these rawer details at times.

Also, the title itself felt a little off. Titles like The Girl on the Train add to a trend of labeling adult women as “girls”. Rachel, along with the other narrators, are adults dealing with very mature struggles, and referring to them as “girls” in the title doesn’t fully convey the weight of their experiences.

Ultimately, The Girl on the Train is a well-constructed thriller with suspense and mystery. It is a solid pick for those who enjoy slow-burn psychological thrillers. However, without a deeper connection to the characters, I felt detached from the story’s major moments. If you’re looking for a twisty read with flawed but intriguing characters, this may still be worth the ride—just don’t expect to get too attached.