Books
11 Books For 'Girl On The Train' Fans
One of the first buzzy books of 2015 was Paula Hawkins' The Girl on the Train. Even before it was out in stores, everyone seemed to know it would be the next big thing. It was called the next Gone Girl a million times over, but there was still the question of whether it would actually live up to the hype. But, a year and a half later, the answer is "YES," loud and clear. A runaway bestseller, it wasn't long before the book was optioned for a movie, and before we knew it, there was a cast and everything!
Now, with Emily Blunt as Rachel, a trailer in place, all that's left for us readers to do is wait. Luckily, there are plenty of books for fans of The Girl on the Train , to keep us occupied. At once a psychological thriller that kept us on the edge of our seats, and a relationship drama, Paula Hawkins knew how to hook an audience. From alcoholism, to memory loss, and fraught relationships, some of the best pieces of The Girl on the Train can be found in other riveting novels as well. Here are 11 books to check out while you wait for The Girl on the Train film in October!
1. Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
If you loved trying to figure out what Rachel really saw from that train, and couldn't wait to get to the end to find out what happened to Megan, you'll love Celeste Ng's Everything I Never Told You. This book is about a Chinese-American family whose beloved daughter, Lydia, goes missing without a word. Riveting and heart-breaking, Everything I Never Told You is the perfect summer read if you love a great family saga and beautiful writing.
2. We Could Be Beautiful by Swan Huntley
One of the best parts of The Girl on The Train was Rachel's discovery that even the happiest couples aren't always what they seem. Swan Huntley takes that idea to the next level in We Could Be Beautiful, her debut novel about a woman, Catherine, who seemingly has it all. Everything, of course, except love. So, when her apparent perfect match comes along at an art event, Catherine falls for him. But because this isn't a fairy tale, things take a turn for the suspicious. Full of secrets and a quickly moving plot, We Could Be Beautiful is the perfect addition to your reading list, and the perfect book for fans of The Girl on the Train.
3. In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware
One of the most important plot points of The Girl on the Train was Rachel's memory loss of that one crucial night. In a Dark, Dark Wood explores the same concept of memory loss. What would you do if you woke up covered in blood and bruises in the hospital, unable to remember a thing?
4. You by Caroline Kepnes
At the heart of The Girl on the Train is the story about some very dysfunctional relationships, and no one write a better compellingly dysfunctional relationship than Caroline Kepnes. This story is told from the POV of the villain, the deceptively charming yet sociopathic Joe Goldberg, who becomes unabashedly fixated on a girl he meets in his bookshop.
5. Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll
Jessica Knoll's debut earned comparison's to Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train when it was first published, and with a tagline like "her perfect life is the perfect lie" how could thriller and drama fans resist?
5. Her by Harriet Lane
Emma and Nina are unlikely friends, united only by motherhood. Nina seems to have every answer Emma's been looking for, and the two become closer and closer until it becomes apparent that Nina is inserting herself into Emma's life for a reason that just might border on dangerous. If the relationships between the three main women of The Girl on the Train was your favorite part, Harriet Lane's Her should definitely be your next read!
6. You Will Know Me by Megan Abbott
The disappearance of Megan in The Girl on the Train created a ripple through their community, and impacted more people than one would think possible. Megan Abbott's You Will Know Me focuses on the death of a member of a very small gymnastics-focused community, and the many ripples it can create throughout a group of people.
7. Where They Found Her by Kimberly McCreight
Missing people, long hidden secrets coming uncovered; if these were a few of your favorite Girl on the Train plot points, Where They Found Her will work the same magic for you!
8. Try Not to Breathe by Holly Seddon
Rachel's alcoholism was the root of the plot in The Girl on the Train, and the cause of all of her problems. In Holly Seddon's debut, Try Not to Breathe, an alcoholic journalist, Alex, tries her best to uncover the secrets of a 15 year old mysery, and finally discover what happened to Amy Stevenson, as she tries to hang on to what remains of her own memory.
9. All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda
A decade old investigation is continued in All the Missing Girls, a thriller told in reverse — from day 15 to day one of her disappearance. A new spin on a classic "missing person" thriller, All the Missing Girls is the perfect read for thriller fans.
10. A Small Indiscretion by Jan Ellison
Compared to both Everything I Never Told You and The Girl on the Train, A Small Indiscretion combines everything we loved about both novels to bring about a contemporary mystery where past and present collide.
Image: Universal Pictures
