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The Note
A vacation in the Hamptons goes terribly wrong for three friends with a complicated history.
It was meant to be a harmless prank.
Growing up, May Hanover was a good girl, always. Well-behaved, top of her class, a compulsive rule-follower. Raised by a first-generation Chinese single mother with high expectations, May didn’t have room to slip up, let alone fail. Her friends didn’t call her the Little Sheriff for nothing.
But even good girls have secrets. And regrets. When it comes to her friendship with Lauren and Kelsey, she's had her fair share of both. Their bond—forged when May was just twelve years old—has withstood a tragic accident, individual scandals, heartbreak and loss. Now the three friends have reunited for the first time in years for a few days of sun and fun in the Hamptons. But a chance encounter with a pair of strangers leads to a drunken prank that goes horribly awry.
When she finds herself at the center of an urgent police investigation, May begins to wonder whether Lauren and Kelsey are keeping secrets from her, testing the limits of her loyalty to lifelong friends.
What had they gone and done?
The Note is a page-turner of the highest orderfrom one of our greatest contemporary suspense writers.
It was meant to be a harmless prank.
Growing up, May Hanover was a good girl, always. Well-behaved, top of her class, a compulsive rule-follower. Raised by a first-generation Chinese single mother with high expectations, May didn’t have room to slip up, let alone fail. Her friends didn’t call her the Little Sheriff for nothing.
But even good girls have secrets. And regrets. When it comes to her friendship with Lauren and Kelsey, she's had her fair share of both. Their bond—forged when May was just twelve years old—has withstood a tragic accident, individual scandals, heartbreak and loss. Now the three friends have reunited for the first time in years for a few days of sun and fun in the Hamptons. But a chance encounter with a pair of strangers leads to a drunken prank that goes horribly awry.
When she finds herself at the center of an urgent police investigation, May begins to wonder whether Lauren and Kelsey are keeping secrets from her, testing the limits of her loyalty to lifelong friends.
What had they gone and done?
The Note is a page-turner of the highest orderfrom one of our greatest contemporary suspense writers.
287 pages, Hardcover
First published January 7, 2025
1,460 people are currently reading
47.4k people want to read
About the author
Alafair Burke
59books5,146followersAlafair Burke is the New York Times, Edgar-nominated author of fourteen crime novels, including The Ex, The Wife, The Better Sister, and the forthcoming Find Me. She is also the co-author of several novels with Mary Higgins Clark. A graduate of Stanford Law School and a former Deputy District Attorney in Portland, Oregon, Alafair is now a Professor of Law at Hofstra Law School, where she teaches criminal law and procedure.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,528 reviews
March 19, 2025
Another addictive Alafair Burke thriller is guaranteed to keep eyes glued to the pages, promising enough tension to keep you on the edge of your seat, biting your nails, and squirming impatiently until all the pieces come together.
What I enjoyed most about this book was its quick pacing, increasing tension, and the exploration of the friendships between three women who all harbor secrets that could destroy everything they've built over the years. The concept of three "canceled" women gathering to heal their wounds, with a prank that spirals out of control, is also refreshing.
However, there were aspects I didn't enjoy as much, particularly the three main characters. May was the most relatable with her good heart and desire to do the right thing, but her goody-two-shoes attitude and self-righteousness sometimes made me roll my eyes. Her "Asian Karen" moment made me reconsider the viral destructive effects of social media on lives when a person makes a sudden, judgmental mistake that ruins everything they've worked for. Is it fair? That's obviously subjective and open to debate.
From the beginning, I never liked Kelsey and her exaggerated party girl attitude. Perhaps her privileged, daddy’s girl behavior rubbed me the wrong way. And Lauren, the musical prodigy still in a relationship with her long-time older billionaire lover, is self-oriented and impulsive, only prioritizing her own needs. I didn’t understand her friendship with Kelsey and May. She's older and leads a free-spirited life without caring about what others think, so her canceled status after her illicit relationship was exposed by the billionaire’s wife didn't affect her life as much as it did the others.
Despite the unlikable characters and their web of lies, the murder mystery plot is compelling. The well-built mystery, the execution of pacing, and the realistic conclusion are the novel's strengths, which make you overlook the negativity of the characters. You'll still stay glued to the pages to discover the twists and revelations.
The plot revolves around May Hanover, a rule follower, and the Chinese single mother’s aspiring daughter who graduated from both Harvard and Columbia. Nicknamed "Little Sheriff" by her friends, May loses her rising law career when a subway video of her breakdown goes viral. This incident rekindles her friendship with old school friends Lauren, involved in a scandal for adultery, and Kelsey, whose husband has been shot and whose case remains unsolved. The media attention forces her to lay low, which reunites them.
Their girl trip to the Hamptons, where Kelsey rents a luxurious Airbnb villa, turns tragic when a drunk prank goes awry, resulting in a missing person case. As things escalate and new truths are revealed, the three women learn new facts about each other that test their friendship and loyalties. Can they trust each other not to throw the others under the bus?
Overall, this is a riveting mystery that I’m rounding up from 3.5 stars to 4. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a page-turner, especially fans of women’s fiction, legal thrillers, and mysteries, to enjoy with some nice refreshments and a huge can of popcorn!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for sharing this riveting thriller’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
What I enjoyed most about this book was its quick pacing, increasing tension, and the exploration of the friendships between three women who all harbor secrets that could destroy everything they've built over the years. The concept of three "canceled" women gathering to heal their wounds, with a prank that spirals out of control, is also refreshing.
However, there were aspects I didn't enjoy as much, particularly the three main characters. May was the most relatable with her good heart and desire to do the right thing, but her goody-two-shoes attitude and self-righteousness sometimes made me roll my eyes. Her "Asian Karen" moment made me reconsider the viral destructive effects of social media on lives when a person makes a sudden, judgmental mistake that ruins everything they've worked for. Is it fair? That's obviously subjective and open to debate.
From the beginning, I never liked Kelsey and her exaggerated party girl attitude. Perhaps her privileged, daddy’s girl behavior rubbed me the wrong way. And Lauren, the musical prodigy still in a relationship with her long-time older billionaire lover, is self-oriented and impulsive, only prioritizing her own needs. I didn’t understand her friendship with Kelsey and May. She's older and leads a free-spirited life without caring about what others think, so her canceled status after her illicit relationship was exposed by the billionaire’s wife didn't affect her life as much as it did the others.
Despite the unlikable characters and their web of lies, the murder mystery plot is compelling. The well-built mystery, the execution of pacing, and the realistic conclusion are the novel's strengths, which make you overlook the negativity of the characters. You'll still stay glued to the pages to discover the twists and revelations.
The plot revolves around May Hanover, a rule follower, and the Chinese single mother’s aspiring daughter who graduated from both Harvard and Columbia. Nicknamed "Little Sheriff" by her friends, May loses her rising law career when a subway video of her breakdown goes viral. This incident rekindles her friendship with old school friends Lauren, involved in a scandal for adultery, and Kelsey, whose husband has been shot and whose case remains unsolved. The media attention forces her to lay low, which reunites them.
Their girl trip to the Hamptons, where Kelsey rents a luxurious Airbnb villa, turns tragic when a drunk prank goes awry, resulting in a missing person case. As things escalate and new truths are revealed, the three women learn new facts about each other that test their friendship and loyalties. Can they trust each other not to throw the others under the bus?
Overall, this is a riveting mystery that I’m rounding up from 3.5 stars to 4. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a page-turner, especially fans of women’s fiction, legal thrillers, and mysteries, to enjoy with some nice refreshments and a huge can of popcorn!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for sharing this riveting thriller’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
February 15, 2025
I won’t waste time recapping the plot, it’s easy enough to find.
I made it past 50% and couldn’t go on another page.
Silly, silly grown-ass women who have been “cancelled�, all doing silly, silly things for silly, silly reasons.
The story was very heavy on the pandemic and virtue signaling. It’s 2025, let’s move on.
The author thought it was a good idea to throw every hot button social issue into the story �.no stone was left unturned - ad nauseam. No thank you.
This might possibly be the worst book I’ve read. Certainly the worst so far in 2025.
The only mystery here is how this got published. Or why I hung in till 50%.
I made it past 50% and couldn’t go on another page.
Silly, silly grown-ass women who have been “cancelled�, all doing silly, silly things for silly, silly reasons.
The story was very heavy on the pandemic and virtue signaling. It’s 2025, let’s move on.
The author thought it was a good idea to throw every hot button social issue into the story �.no stone was left unturned - ad nauseam. No thank you.
This might possibly be the worst book I’ve read. Certainly the worst so far in 2025.
The only mystery here is how this got published. Or why I hung in till 50%.
November 7, 2024
2.5🌟
It was just a silly prank (is there such a thing?)
Three life-long friends are getting together for a weekend rendezvous in the Hamptons. Each sporting a boatload of baggage (in this case it's secrets and scandals.) But they all hope to put that behind them and just enjoy their vacation.
But everything takes an ominous turn on their first night when, after a few too many cocktails, a thoughtless prank turns into a police investigation.
This book didn't work out for me, here ae a few issues I experienced.
I had great difficulty keeping the characters separate. May's character stood out, but the two friends Kelsey and Lauren were indistinguishable and I consistently mixed them up.
There was also too much attention on social issues and not enough on the storyline itself. By 7% I seriously considered DNF. (and I never do that) But I forged ahead hoping at some point it would click with me. Sadly...it didn’t.
I was really looking forward to this read as I loved the premise and heard such rave reviews about this author.
I’m just one reader. Be sure to read the many reviews from others who had a much more positive experience with this book.
Thank you to Knoph, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor via NetGalley
It was just a silly prank (is there such a thing?)
Three life-long friends are getting together for a weekend rendezvous in the Hamptons. Each sporting a boatload of baggage (in this case it's secrets and scandals.) But they all hope to put that behind them and just enjoy their vacation.
But everything takes an ominous turn on their first night when, after a few too many cocktails, a thoughtless prank turns into a police investigation.
This book didn't work out for me, here ae a few issues I experienced.
I had great difficulty keeping the characters separate. May's character stood out, but the two friends Kelsey and Lauren were indistinguishable and I consistently mixed them up.
There was also too much attention on social issues and not enough on the storyline itself. By 7% I seriously considered DNF. (and I never do that) But I forged ahead hoping at some point it would click with me. Sadly...it didn’t.
I was really looking forward to this read as I loved the premise and heard such rave reviews about this author.
I’m just one reader. Be sure to read the many reviews from others who had a much more positive experience with this book.
Thank you to Knoph, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor via NetGalley
March 3, 2025
May, Lauren, and Kelsey first met as teenagers at Wildwood, a summer camp for musicians and artists. Lauren, the oldest, became a teacher, while May and Kelsey transitioned from campers to counselors. When the novel opens, the three women are well into their careers, each burdened by a past scandal that has been magnified by social media. Personal and professional embarrassments loom over them, making them wary of unwanted attention.
Their long-awaited girls� weekend in the Hamptons takes an unexpected turn when a prank goes awry. Frustrated after losing a parking spot to a rude driver, they leave a sarcastic note on the offender’s car—only to find themselves entangled in a police investigation. Given their pasts, all three have every reason to avoid public scrutiny, let alone involvement in a criminal inquiry.
Alafair Burke (daughter of acclaimed novelist James Lee Burke) crafts a suspenseful narrative exploring themes of racism, xenophobia, cancel culture, and the misuse of power—particularly in the context of sexual misconduct. The novel unfolds through multiple POVs and flashbacks, gradually revealing the women’s shared history at Wildwood and the pivotal event that bound them together.
This is the third Alafair Burke novel I’ve read, and she continues to impress with her signature red herrings, intricate plot twists, morally complex characters, and layered mysteries. Just when I thought I had figured everything out, another twist emerged. Though some sections moved a bit slowly, the story ultimately became a gripping page-turner, culminating in a satisfying and well-executed ending.
Their long-awaited girls� weekend in the Hamptons takes an unexpected turn when a prank goes awry. Frustrated after losing a parking spot to a rude driver, they leave a sarcastic note on the offender’s car—only to find themselves entangled in a police investigation. Given their pasts, all three have every reason to avoid public scrutiny, let alone involvement in a criminal inquiry.
Alafair Burke (daughter of acclaimed novelist James Lee Burke) crafts a suspenseful narrative exploring themes of racism, xenophobia, cancel culture, and the misuse of power—particularly in the context of sexual misconduct. The novel unfolds through multiple POVs and flashbacks, gradually revealing the women’s shared history at Wildwood and the pivotal event that bound them together.
This is the third Alafair Burke novel I’ve read, and she continues to impress with her signature red herrings, intricate plot twists, morally complex characters, and layered mysteries. Just when I thought I had figured everything out, another twist emerged. Though some sections moved a bit slowly, the story ultimately became a gripping page-turner, culminating in a satisfying and well-executed ending.
February 13, 2025
I’ve always been a massive fan of Alafair Burke’s novels, so, as soon as I read the synopsis for The Note, I was 100% game. I mean, who could pass up a vacation prank-gone-wrong, long-buried secrets, and a group of bestie gal pals? After finishing the book in one single sitting, I’m happy to report that it was everything I love in a suspense/thriller. From the cleverly crafted multiple POVs to the well-developed backstories that made me fall for the characters despite their rather unlikeable ways, I was easily won over by this fast-paced plot from the very first page.
The storyline itself was propulsive and alluring. With multiple mysterious deaths and a whole host of socially “cancelled� individuals, there was plenty of dirt to be aired. What made it all even better, however, was how utterly realistic it all felt. I mean, despite the obviously fictionalized histories and plot lines, I could still see this on a shock-and-awe Dateline episode for the masses. And I’m happy to say that it all finished up with an equally genuine climax and conclusion that left me both flying through the pages and believing every word.
The only issue I had came back to how I didn’t quite love the characters in this novel. From a black-and-white fact-finder who was always convinced in her own opinion to a rash, foolhardy rich girl who grated just a bit, they weren’t exactly my favorites. Despite this, however, the multiple reveals—which all shocked me but good—and the tangled web of secrets and lies made up for any irritation that I might’ve had and I raced through the book in no time at all.
All said and done, Ms. Burke has clearly done it yet again with her newest novel. At just over 300 pages, it was not only a quick, easy read, but I also had a blast putting on my armchair sleuthing hat as I tried to work it all out. And while it was a rather straightforward albeit mostly unguessable murder mystery premise, it was one—I have to point out—with a conclusion that totally evaded any and all of my well-honed suspicions. So while the reviews might be mixed, I recommend giving this one a try as I had a thoroughly good time. Rating of 4.5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Growing up, May Hanover was a good girl, always. Well-behaved, top of her class, a compulsive rule-follower. Raised by a first-generation Chinese single mother with high expectations, May didn’t have room to slip up, let alone fail. Her friends didn’t call her the Little Sheriff for nothing.
But even good girls have secrets. And regrets. When it comes to her friendship with Lauren and Kelsey, she's had her fair share of both. Their bond—forged when May was just twelve years old—has withstood a tragic accident, individual scandals, heartbreak and loss. Now the three friends have reunited for the first time in years for a few days of sun and fun in the Hamptons. But a chance encounter with a pair of strangers leads to a drunken prank that goes horribly awry.
When she finds herself at the center of an urgent police investigation, May begins to wonder whether Lauren and Kelsey are keeping secrets from her, testing the limits of her loyalty to lifelong friends.
Thank you to Alafair Burke, Alfred A. Knopf, and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: January 7, 2025
Content warning: murder, suicide, anxiety, xenophobia, mention of: gun violence, drowning
The storyline itself was propulsive and alluring. With multiple mysterious deaths and a whole host of socially “cancelled� individuals, there was plenty of dirt to be aired. What made it all even better, however, was how utterly realistic it all felt. I mean, despite the obviously fictionalized histories and plot lines, I could still see this on a shock-and-awe Dateline episode for the masses. And I’m happy to say that it all finished up with an equally genuine climax and conclusion that left me both flying through the pages and believing every word.
The only issue I had came back to how I didn’t quite love the characters in this novel. From a black-and-white fact-finder who was always convinced in her own opinion to a rash, foolhardy rich girl who grated just a bit, they weren’t exactly my favorites. Despite this, however, the multiple reveals—which all shocked me but good—and the tangled web of secrets and lies made up for any irritation that I might’ve had and I raced through the book in no time at all.
All said and done, Ms. Burke has clearly done it yet again with her newest novel. At just over 300 pages, it was not only a quick, easy read, but I also had a blast putting on my armchair sleuthing hat as I tried to work it all out. And while it was a rather straightforward albeit mostly unguessable murder mystery premise, it was one—I have to point out—with a conclusion that totally evaded any and all of my well-honed suspicions. So while the reviews might be mixed, I recommend giving this one a try as I had a thoroughly good time. Rating of 4.5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Growing up, May Hanover was a good girl, always. Well-behaved, top of her class, a compulsive rule-follower. Raised by a first-generation Chinese single mother with high expectations, May didn’t have room to slip up, let alone fail. Her friends didn’t call her the Little Sheriff for nothing.
But even good girls have secrets. And regrets. When it comes to her friendship with Lauren and Kelsey, she's had her fair share of both. Their bond—forged when May was just twelve years old—has withstood a tragic accident, individual scandals, heartbreak and loss. Now the three friends have reunited for the first time in years for a few days of sun and fun in the Hamptons. But a chance encounter with a pair of strangers leads to a drunken prank that goes horribly awry.
When she finds herself at the center of an urgent police investigation, May begins to wonder whether Lauren and Kelsey are keeping secrets from her, testing the limits of her loyalty to lifelong friends.
Thank you to Alafair Burke, Alfred A. Knopf, and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: January 7, 2025
Content warning: murder, suicide, anxiety, xenophobia, mention of: gun violence, drowning
December 25, 2024
Three friends on a vacation, what could go wrong???? Friends since they were young, May, Lauren and Kelsey have had a close bond which has seen heartbreak, loss, individual issues, and a tragedy. Over the years, their relationships changed from close to toxic. They planned their time in the Hamptons for some fun in the sun. They never thought that a prank and a night out drinking would end the way it did!
This book is full of tension between the individual characters and between them and others. May, Lauren, and Kelsey all have their secrets and when a police investigation ensues, they will see their loyalty tested.
I had high hopes for this book and thought I would love . I loved the synopsis of three friends with secrets, going away together and something happening. But I found that none of the characters were sympathetic or likeable. I didn’t feel for any of them. While the mystery was intriguing, I felt all the issues brought up muddled down the plot. I don't mind a few issues being thrown in as it makes the story feel more relevant and timelier but for some reason, in this book it felt too much.
What I did enjoy was the tension between the characters and their secrets. The toxicity of their friendship was well done as well.
Thank you to Knopf and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at 📖
This book is full of tension between the individual characters and between them and others. May, Lauren, and Kelsey all have their secrets and when a police investigation ensues, they will see their loyalty tested.
I had high hopes for this book and thought I would love . I loved the synopsis of three friends with secrets, going away together and something happening. But I found that none of the characters were sympathetic or likeable. I didn’t feel for any of them. While the mystery was intriguing, I felt all the issues brought up muddled down the plot. I don't mind a few issues being thrown in as it makes the story feel more relevant and timelier but for some reason, in this book it felt too much.
What I did enjoy was the tension between the characters and their secrets. The toxicity of their friendship was well done as well.
Thank you to Knopf and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at 📖
October 15, 2024
I know that Alafair Burke is a much loved author amongst my ŷ friends, therefore I was very excited to receive an ARC of this book. This is my first read by Alafair Burke, and I hate to say that I wasn’t that impressed with this book. I’m sure there are other books of hers that I would like more, but this one just didn’t work for me. It was a short read, and it took me nearly a week to read this (not a good sign). I did not like one character (which usually isn’t a dealbreaker for me), but unlikable characters and a slow moving storyline just made it worse.
In this story we have three friends- May, Lauren, and Kelsey. Their friendship is a bit toxic, and they have decided to spend a weekend together in the Hampton’s after several years apart. The three women go out to dinner and while waiting for a parking spot, a young couple steals their spot that they were waiting for. A note is then left which is supposed to be a harmless prank. How will this innocent note tie all these women together into a crime they were not involved in? And why do all three girls have things from their pasts that have ruined their reputations?
This book deals with instances from the pandemic, race, gender, rich white men having power, and even some courtroom drama. I just felt like I’ve read too many of these books within the past few years, and I’ve definitely had my fill. However, I’m sure many Alafair Burke fans will still love this book.
2.5 stars- rounded up.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, & Anchor, and the author for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
Publication date: January 7, 2025
In this story we have three friends- May, Lauren, and Kelsey. Their friendship is a bit toxic, and they have decided to spend a weekend together in the Hampton’s after several years apart. The three women go out to dinner and while waiting for a parking spot, a young couple steals their spot that they were waiting for. A note is then left which is supposed to be a harmless prank. How will this innocent note tie all these women together into a crime they were not involved in? And why do all three girls have things from their pasts that have ruined their reputations?
This book deals with instances from the pandemic, race, gender, rich white men having power, and even some courtroom drama. I just felt like I’ve read too many of these books within the past few years, and I’ve definitely had my fill. However, I’m sure many Alafair Burke fans will still love this book.
2.5 stars- rounded up.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, & Anchor, and the author for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
Publication date: January 7, 2025
March 27, 2025
3.5 stars (rounded up).
June 11, 2024
I love Alafair Burke, and this just may be her best book yet! This mystery surrounds a group of three friends known as the Cancelled Crew - Kelsey, May, and Lauren. All three have been friends since childhood, and each one of them has been at the center of a scandal that got them "cancelled" in popular culture. (Only one of them involved a murder!) So one day all three of them decide to take a trip to the Hamptons. What could possibly go wrong?
Well, a lot - specifically, another murder, which requires May to come out of retirement (she's a former prosecutor) to figure out how to help a friend accused of murder for the second time. This is the part where I mention that I was a teensy bit annoyed at how the story took a completely unrealistic turn, by having a fellow witness to the crime representing the accused - side note, I am a former prosecutor (as is the author!) and these things sometimes irk me. But Burke did such a great job with the setup of the final twist that I was able to forgive this brief foray into fantasy.
This book was a page-turner in every sense of the word, as I couldn't wait to find out whodunit, and I wasn't disappointed. I love the way Burke writes and the three women at the center of this book were well-drawn and fascinating. I'd love to see a sequel, or even a series.
Five shiny stars from me, and I'll be on the edge of my seat waiting for whatever Alafair Burke writes next!
Thanks so much to Knopf for the advanced copy to read.
Well, a lot - specifically, another murder, which requires May to come out of retirement (she's a former prosecutor) to figure out how to help a friend accused of murder for the second time. This is the part where I mention that I was a teensy bit annoyed at how the story took a completely unrealistic turn, by having a fellow witness to the crime representing the accused - side note, I am a former prosecutor (as is the author!) and these things sometimes irk me. But Burke did such a great job with the setup of the final twist that I was able to forgive this brief foray into fantasy.
This book was a page-turner in every sense of the word, as I couldn't wait to find out whodunit, and I wasn't disappointed. I love the way Burke writes and the three women at the center of this book were well-drawn and fascinating. I'd love to see a sequel, or even a series.
Five shiny stars from me, and I'll be on the edge of my seat waiting for whatever Alafair Burke writes next!
Thanks so much to Knopf for the advanced copy to read.
December 23, 2024
I'm always happy to suspend disbelief in a good thriller, but this one was just a little OTT. Some parts were enjoyable but I was never entirely engaged. Easy, escapism read.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for my eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for my eARC in exchange for my honest review.
January 8, 2025
This was a fun one that captured my attention right away and held it until the end!
The Note follows three lifelong friends reconnecting in person on a vacation to the Hamptons. A seemingly harmless prank reveals a big tangled web of lies and secrets and the friends realize they don’t know each other quite as well as they thought�
I’m not gonna say that I particularly liked the characters in here, but I do think they were well written and fleshed out! They frustrated me at times, but that added to the mystery. There are lots of reveals and little twists as the story unravels to keep this interesting throughout the whole story. I did have a suspicion about how this would all wrap up but that didn’t make me find it any less exciting.
Not overly memorable, but definitely a fun mystery!
Thank you to Netgalley, Alafair Burke, and Knopf publishing for providing this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Content warnings (moderate): murder, gun violence, panic attacks, drowning, alcohol, suicide, xenophobia, incest
The Note follows three lifelong friends reconnecting in person on a vacation to the Hamptons. A seemingly harmless prank reveals a big tangled web of lies and secrets and the friends realize they don’t know each other quite as well as they thought�
I’m not gonna say that I particularly liked the characters in here, but I do think they were well written and fleshed out! They frustrated me at times, but that added to the mystery. There are lots of reveals and little twists as the story unravels to keep this interesting throughout the whole story. I did have a suspicion about how this would all wrap up but that didn’t make me find it any less exciting.
Not overly memorable, but definitely a fun mystery!
Thank you to Netgalley, Alafair Burke, and Knopf publishing for providing this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Content warnings (moderate): murder, gun violence, panic attacks, drowning, alcohol, suicide, xenophobia, incest
January 9, 2025
This is a page turner from cover to cover. A girl's weekend in the Hamptons? Count me in!
Kelsey, Lauren, and May have been friends since they were at camp together in their youth. When they get together for this weekend, a gesture of annoyance for a stolen parking spot has repercussions that none of them could imagine. Secret after hidden secret is slowly revealed. Each girl has a past and I liked how the author dives further into each one to make the narrative complex. The thought that one of them could be a killer is preposterous, or is it? As each new character is introduced suspicions arise among this tight group of friends.
The Note is a thrilling, fun, and compulsive read. Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for an early copy.
Kelsey, Lauren, and May have been friends since they were at camp together in their youth. When they get together for this weekend, a gesture of annoyance for a stolen parking spot has repercussions that none of them could imagine. Secret after hidden secret is slowly revealed. Each girl has a past and I liked how the author dives further into each one to make the narrative complex. The thought that one of them could be a killer is preposterous, or is it? As each new character is introduced suspicions arise among this tight group of friends.
The Note is a thrilling, fun, and compulsive read. Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for an early copy.
January 13, 2025
Three friends go on vacation and chaos erupts. Mays friend Kelsey has dark secrets that come to light and a prank goes horribly wrong. This was a great story with interesting characters. Thanks NetGalley and Knoph for this eARC that will be released January 2025!
October 10, 2024
I received a free copy of, The Note, by Alafair Burke, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. May. Kelsey, and Lauren have been friends since childhood, they have been through a lot together. They decide to meet up in the Hamptons, a silly prank goes awry, and they are being investigated by the police. This book was slow to start, but got a little better at the end.
January 2, 2025
I really did not feel this one. I am usually a fan of this authors books but this one just didn’t work for me. I was bored, which doesn’t happen a lot in a thriller
I found myself not wanting to pick it up, not caring what was going to happen. I couldn’t believe these women could be friends, they were all too different. The storyline was dragged out so much by all the back stories and social commentary, I just wanted the mystery. There was just too much going on and too much drama in their pasts for one group of friends.
I did enjoy the setting in the early part of the book in the Hamptons. Would love to visit there one day.
Thanks to the publisher on NetGalley for my copy of this book to read.
I found myself not wanting to pick it up, not caring what was going to happen. I couldn’t believe these women could be friends, they were all too different. The storyline was dragged out so much by all the back stories and social commentary, I just wanted the mystery. There was just too much going on and too much drama in their pasts for one group of friends.
I did enjoy the setting in the early part of the book in the Hamptons. Would love to visit there one day.
Thanks to the publisher on NetGalley for my copy of this book to read.
September 30, 2024
Three former child musical prodigies—one a successful Chinese-American lawyer, another a prominent African-American symphony director, and the other a stunningly beautiful blonde daughter of a fabulously wealthy Boston millionaire—in addition to being longtime friends, they also individually hide dark secrets; withhold knowledge about anonymous notes, messages, and relationships; just may be guilty of multiple murders in Alafair Burke’s gripping suspense thriller, “The Note.�
This is my first Alafair Burke novel; however, it definitely will not be my last because I am intrigued by The Note’s lybrythine twists and O’Henry surprises.
I love, love, love this novel. It's my favorite type of page-turner—ones that keep me up until 3 a.m. devouring each luscious paragraph.
NetGalley, Author Alafair Burke, and Publisher Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor | Knopf are graciously thanked for providing this advanced readers� copy (ARC)—JoyReaderGirl1.
This is my first Alafair Burke novel; however, it definitely will not be my last because I am intrigued by The Note’s lybrythine twists and O’Henry surprises.
I love, love, love this novel. It's my favorite type of page-turner—ones that keep me up until 3 a.m. devouring each luscious paragraph.
NetGalley, Author Alafair Burke, and Publisher Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor | Knopf are graciously thanked for providing this advanced readers� copy (ARC)—JoyReaderGirl1.
January 13, 2025
Finished Reading
Pre-Read Notes
I dont have any expectationsfor this one. Going in almost blind. Hope I love it!
The idea behind the meme is that the whole internet might fall in love with something fabulous like an adorable baby duck who loves to drink milkshakes, but then once the milkshake-loving duck comes under scrutiny, it turns out the duck’s just another piece of crap. p112
Review summary and recommendations
This is a book that goes on too long, in my opinion. The set-up is pretty great, but after the thirty percent mark, plot points become coincidental. The book is repetitious and delivers way too much of the story through dialog. And because the diolog is missing beats, these long stretches of it can feel like their taking place in a fuzzy cloud of nothingness. A good concept with innumerable execution problems.
I recommend this fans of suspense and women's fiction, and readers who enjoy narrative chaos.
Reading Notes
Three (or more) things I loved:
1. Very interesting characters here and intriguing character development. As close as May had once been to Kelsey, being part of her life could be a major commitment. Kelsey checked in constantly on the people she loved. It came naturally to her to follow up on every event a friend may have mentioned to her in passing. Waking up to a Kelsey good luck with xyz today message was a reminder that she was in your corner 24/ 7, despite the physical distance. But May remembered the way she had felt obliged to do the same, even when it felt like work. p34
2. The plot unfolds very slowly, but pay attention, and it'll snag your interest at about p80.
3. I'm 58 pages in and I'm still not sure what this book's about. Picked out some of the subplots though, like the challenges inherent to interracial friendships, marrying strangers, and fluxes in our friendships. These subplots are doing all right bearing the weight of the story...for now.
Three (or less) things I didn't love:
This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.
1. So much ageism in this. It's not done well as a matter of character development, even, since the main characters are calling walk-ons "Boomers" for things that aren't really related to generational differences. Boomer is still a generational insult, right? There is also stigmatizing of weight and chronic illness, so...yay.
2. Just to make it clear: this is a suspense novel and not a thriller.
3. Attempts to raise the narrative stakes at the 1/4 point are...underwhelming...since the stakes are still too low to bear on the story, and the content makes the fmc and her friends look like criminals because of the actions they are taking trying to avoid looking like criminals. It's weak internal logic.
4. I like this book's politics, but it borders on didactic.
5. Once the note is in play, story action takes place almost completely through hearsay. I always find story constructed of a lot of dialogue to be difficult to follow.
6. This book goes over and over the same material. I get it too, it's a mystery, but this one gets repetitive.
Rating: 🏖🏖.5 /5 girls' weekends
for the right reader
Finished: Jan 4 '25
Format: digital arc, NetGalley
Read this book if you like:
🔎 mystery or suspense stories
🙄 unlikable leads
🔥 slow burn plot
↪️ plot twists
Thank you to the author Alafair Burke, publishers Knopf, and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of THE NOTE. All views are mine.
---------------
Pre-Read Notes
I dont have any expectationsfor this one. Going in almost blind. Hope I love it!
The idea behind the meme is that the whole internet might fall in love with something fabulous like an adorable baby duck who loves to drink milkshakes, but then once the milkshake-loving duck comes under scrutiny, it turns out the duck’s just another piece of crap. p112
Review summary and recommendations
This is a book that goes on too long, in my opinion. The set-up is pretty great, but after the thirty percent mark, plot points become coincidental. The book is repetitious and delivers way too much of the story through dialog. And because the diolog is missing beats, these long stretches of it can feel like their taking place in a fuzzy cloud of nothingness. A good concept with innumerable execution problems.
I recommend this fans of suspense and women's fiction, and readers who enjoy narrative chaos.
Reading Notes
Three (or more) things I loved:
1. Very interesting characters here and intriguing character development. As close as May had once been to Kelsey, being part of her life could be a major commitment. Kelsey checked in constantly on the people she loved. It came naturally to her to follow up on every event a friend may have mentioned to her in passing. Waking up to a Kelsey good luck with xyz today message was a reminder that she was in your corner 24/ 7, despite the physical distance. But May remembered the way she had felt obliged to do the same, even when it felt like work. p34
2. The plot unfolds very slowly, but pay attention, and it'll snag your interest at about p80.
3. I'm 58 pages in and I'm still not sure what this book's about. Picked out some of the subplots though, like the challenges inherent to interracial friendships, marrying strangers, and fluxes in our friendships. These subplots are doing all right bearing the weight of the story...for now.
Three (or less) things I didn't love:
This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.
1. So much ageism in this. It's not done well as a matter of character development, even, since the main characters are calling walk-ons "Boomers" for things that aren't really related to generational differences. Boomer is still a generational insult, right? There is also stigmatizing of weight and chronic illness, so...yay.
2. Just to make it clear: this is a suspense novel and not a thriller.
3. Attempts to raise the narrative stakes at the 1/4 point are...underwhelming...since the stakes are still too low to bear on the story, and the content makes the fmc and her friends look like criminals because of the actions they are taking trying to avoid looking like criminals. It's weak internal logic.
4. I like this book's politics, but it borders on didactic.
5. Once the note is in play, story action takes place almost completely through hearsay. I always find story constructed of a lot of dialogue to be difficult to follow.
6. This book goes over and over the same material. I get it too, it's a mystery, but this one gets repetitive.
Rating: 🏖🏖.5 /5 girls' weekends
for the right reader
Finished: Jan 4 '25
Format: digital arc, NetGalley
Read this book if you like:
🔎 mystery or suspense stories
🙄 unlikable leads
🔥 slow burn plot
↪️ plot twists
Thank you to the author Alafair Burke, publishers Knopf, and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of THE NOTE. All views are mine.
---------------
October 22, 2024
I had SUCH HIGH HOPES. But wtf was that ending? SO predictable 😭
January 7, 2025
I love a good thriller, but it *is* hard to root for unlikeable characters, and there are quite a few in this book. Three friends reunite, and chaos ensues. I appreciated all the twists and turns, and Burke does a good job of disguising the truth.
If you love to read about toxic people, this would be a great read for you. I myself have a bit of a hard time rooting for jerks. 😊
Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf for a complimentary copy. All opinions are mine alone.
If you love to read about toxic people, this would be a great read for you. I myself have a bit of a hard time rooting for jerks. 😊
Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf for a complimentary copy. All opinions are mine alone.
February 10, 2025
‼️TW: fertility, death, racism, COVID‼️
Let’s start by saying she has a pug!!!!! As a pug owner (swipe to last pic to see Blade), I always geek out whenever I read about them in books. This takes place in a post-Covid setting. I know Covid talk can be triggering for some ( at least I’ve seen reviews elsewhere complaining about it), so giving you a heads up here! This is a relevant plot that addresses cancel culture which is ever present these days. I will say I always fall for Alafair’s red herrings� I think - ok this book is steady and straightforward. Predictable - yet satisfying. Then in the end, she goes in a different direction that shocks me. This is a testament to her writing because I am always so engrossed in the page that I miss the big reveal every👏🏻 damn 👏🏻 time 👏🏻. I love that her work isn’t predictable (even when I think for a second it is!). Definitely recommend!
Let’s start by saying she has a pug!!!!! As a pug owner (swipe to last pic to see Blade), I always geek out whenever I read about them in books. This takes place in a post-Covid setting. I know Covid talk can be triggering for some ( at least I’ve seen reviews elsewhere complaining about it), so giving you a heads up here! This is a relevant plot that addresses cancel culture which is ever present these days. I will say I always fall for Alafair’s red herrings� I think - ok this book is steady and straightforward. Predictable - yet satisfying. Then in the end, she goes in a different direction that shocks me. This is a testament to her writing because I am always so engrossed in the page that I miss the big reveal every👏🏻 damn 👏🏻 time 👏🏻. I love that her work isn’t predictable (even when I think for a second it is!). Definitely recommend!
August 20, 2024
In short: Toxic female friendship + a prank gone horribly wrong + a side of cancel culture
Three friends, all of whom were involved in very public scandals, spend a weekend at a fancy house in the Hamptons. They drunkenly leave a note on the car that stole their parking space, which sets off a series of events that causes all three women to question their friendship and wonder who they can trust.
Loved the idea of a dumb prank that goes very wrong, but still don't understand why any of these ladies still talk to each other - they are all various levels of terrible and annoying. I almost gave up halfway through because I hated all of them so much, but I'm glad I stuck it out to the end because there were some fun twists.
Was this the best book I've ever read? No. Would I still recommend this as an easy beach/vacation read? Yes.
* thanks to Knopf for the NetGalley review copy. THE NOTE publishes in January 2025.
Three friends, all of whom were involved in very public scandals, spend a weekend at a fancy house in the Hamptons. They drunkenly leave a note on the car that stole their parking space, which sets off a series of events that causes all three women to question their friendship and wonder who they can trust.
Loved the idea of a dumb prank that goes very wrong, but still don't understand why any of these ladies still talk to each other - they are all various levels of terrible and annoying. I almost gave up halfway through because I hated all of them so much, but I'm glad I stuck it out to the end because there were some fun twists.
Was this the best book I've ever read? No. Would I still recommend this as an easy beach/vacation read? Yes.
* thanks to Knopf for the NetGalley review copy. THE NOTE publishes in January 2025.
November 15, 2024
May has always made the right decisions in her life. She always chose the right path. When a man is dead on a getaway with her friends, she becomes a suspect. I enjoyed this book.
December 4, 2024
The reviews for this are all over the place so it’s definitely a divisive read, but I had fun with it. Three friends reunite in the Hamptons and when you get to know these ladies you prob won’t like them. At least I didn’t lol but that doesn’t matter to me as long as there are secrets and lies. The mystery was a little silly but not predictable so overall I liked it and the narrator was engaging.
January 24, 2025
This was a quick read, and while it was entertaining, it left me feeling dissatisfied. The characters were all fairly unlikable (I assume this was intentional?) but they also felt fairly real, flawed in big and small ways. I thought the plotting was clever, though I did guess most of the twists ahead of time. Overall, it had thought-provoking elements, in terms of culture and the effects of the pandemic and other changes during that time, but the mystery aspect was lacking.
April 11, 2025
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the gifted copy of The Note. All opinions are my own. This is my first book by this author and unfortunately it was kind of a flop for me. I really enjoyed the author’s writing and would love to read more of her books.
Three friends from their teenage years reconnect after life gets in the way as adults. While taking a reunion trip all together something sinister occurs. The friends realize that what is happening in present day is eerily history repeating itself.
I enjoyed the premise and the outline of the book but overall it felt kind of a miss for me. This does not mean that it won’t be a hit for other readers though.
Three friends from their teenage years reconnect after life gets in the way as adults. While taking a reunion trip all together something sinister occurs. The friends realize that what is happening in present day is eerily history repeating itself.
I enjoyed the premise and the outline of the book but overall it felt kind of a miss for me. This does not mean that it won’t be a hit for other readers though.
December 2, 2024
Thank you so much to Knopf Publishing and Alafair Burke for my copy of The Note. This book was about a group of friends on a girls trip that were trying to play a harmless prank. May, the high achieving lawyer, and her friends Kelsey and Laruen are all trying to escape heartbreak and loss. So when they decide to prank two strangers, they never imagine how horrible the prank could go. Now they find themselves at the center of a police investigation, and May starts to wonder if her friends are keeping secrets from her and testing her loyalty for more nefarious reasons.
Thoughts: The premise of this book caught my attention right away. I thought it sounded so fun and twisted. Each of the characters was so unlikable and I thought that would bering something fun to the story because they would be characters that I loved to hate. I could see right away why the three of them had been cancelled, and it was hard to root for any of them.
This story was a slow burn with a lot of twists and a lot of the story was just the three girls arguing and not getting along. It was hard to see why they wanted to spend time together after all this time. It also felt a little bit too neat in the end. 3-stars
Thoughts: The premise of this book caught my attention right away. I thought it sounded so fun and twisted. Each of the characters was so unlikable and I thought that would bering something fun to the story because they would be characters that I loved to hate. I could see right away why the three of them had been cancelled, and it was hard to root for any of them.
This story was a slow burn with a lot of twists and a lot of the story was just the three girls arguing and not getting along. It was hard to see why they wanted to spend time together after all this time. It also felt a little bit too neat in the end. 3-stars
January 7, 2025
This book was fine. I thought this one started off very slow and found myself struggling to continue for the first half of the book but it definitely picks up after that. This was my first read by this author and while I found the story interesting overall, it wasn't amazing for me. I'll definitely give this author another try with a different book in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor | Knopf for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Pub Date: 1/7/25
Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor | Knopf for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Pub Date: 1/7/25
June 9, 2024
Unfortunately this book was too pandemic heavy for me, 4 years later. 40% into the book and still nothing happening other than a childish note put on someone’s vehicle over parking. The premise was good, the plot was promising but it just did not deliver for me. Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this in advance.
January 9, 2025
2.5 ⭐️
January 8, 2025
This one wasn’t for me 😬
📌New Review
📆Pub Day
Thank you #partner @prhaudio for my #gifted copy.
🎧: The Note
✍️: Alafair Burke
🖨�: Knopf
📈: 2⭐️
🩸: Psychological Thriller
Unpopular or Popular Opinion? ŷ: 3.60
📝: Girlfriends Kelsey, May & Lauren plan an outing to The Hamptons to rekindle friendships that have needed some TLC for far too long. But when the trio get aggravated with a driver for stealing their parking spot and decide to leave a note on their windshield it takes them down a path everyone will regret. This one is packed with murder, lies, cheating & plenty of drama.
I was so excited to be provided with an ALC of this book & to celebrate pub day today but as Randy Jackson would say “It’s a NO from me dawg.� I was determined not to DNF in hopes of some kind of comeback from the plot, the characters, ANYTHING but yea…no 😭😬. Please tell me I’m not the only one that this story fell flat for.
In my opinion it was far too long, the back stories weren’t really needed, the twists were very predictable & I wasn’t invested at all. Every single character was just blah & unlikeable.
💭 What’s the last book that disappointed you?
Please don’t tag the author or publisher in this negative review, we don’t do that here! But we do provide honest reviews.
📌New Review
📆Pub Day
Thank you #partner @prhaudio for my #gifted copy.
🎧: The Note
✍️: Alafair Burke
🖨�: Knopf
📈: 2⭐️
🩸: Psychological Thriller
Unpopular or Popular Opinion? ŷ: 3.60
📝: Girlfriends Kelsey, May & Lauren plan an outing to The Hamptons to rekindle friendships that have needed some TLC for far too long. But when the trio get aggravated with a driver for stealing their parking spot and decide to leave a note on their windshield it takes them down a path everyone will regret. This one is packed with murder, lies, cheating & plenty of drama.
I was so excited to be provided with an ALC of this book & to celebrate pub day today but as Randy Jackson would say “It’s a NO from me dawg.� I was determined not to DNF in hopes of some kind of comeback from the plot, the characters, ANYTHING but yea…no 😭😬. Please tell me I’m not the only one that this story fell flat for.
In my opinion it was far too long, the back stories weren’t really needed, the twists were very predictable & I wasn’t invested at all. Every single character was just blah & unlikeable.
💭 What’s the last book that disappointed you?
Please don’t tag the author or publisher in this negative review, we don’t do that here! But we do provide honest reviews.
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