Wait… What Did I Just Read?! (In the Best Way Possible)

 

I just finished The Girls Before by Kate Alice Marshall and… wow. Just WOW.

This is one of those thrillers that grabs you by the collar and says, “Oh, you think you know what’s going on? That’s adorable.”

The structure alone had me hooked. You’ve got your main character chapters labeled “Above”—straightforward enough, right? Then suddenly we shift to another POV… unnamed… mysterious… labeled “Below.”

Naturally, I’m sitting there like the seasoned reader I am, thinking, I’ve got this figured out.

Spoiler: I did not, in fact, have this figured out.

Not even a little.

And just when I thought my brain had adjusted to the rhythm of the story, the author flips the script AGAIN. Now we’re in “After” and “Before.” At this point, I’m fully invested, mildly unhinged, and questioning everything I thought I knew about every single character.

Which, let’s be honest, is exactly what a good thriller should do.

What I loved most (aside from the fact that it completely outsmarted me) is how intentional the structure was. This wasn’t just a gimmick—it actually enhanced the tension, the mystery, and the slow unraveling of the truth.

And here’s the kicker…

Even after the final chapter, I’m still sitting here like:

Wait… who was who… and what was what?

In the BEST possible way.

That lingering uncertainty? That’s the kind of storytelling that sticks with you.

Final verdict:
If you love psychological thrillers that mess with your head, play with structure, and make you question your own reading comprehension (in a fun way), you need to read this.