Book Review | Invisible Girl by Lisa Jewell

Goodreads’ Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Invisible Girls is a thrilling Easter egg hunt of carefully hidden clues that lead to the most significant golden egg of all-time.

What I Loved

The shorter answer would be to the question of what didn’t I love but raving about what I love about a book must be done no matter how much time it takes to list. This is the second book by Lisa Jewell that I have had the pleasure of reading. Each time I finish one of her books, I am in awe how she takes a bunch of seemingly random clues presented throughout the story and brings them together into a jaw-dropping conclusion that makes the story the quintessential thriller that it is.

I loved the underlying theme of invisibility and masks that winds its way through the story and exposes itself in unexpected and illuminating ways. It is so easy to be invisible in today’s society. Pull your hood up, and no-one takes the time to look beyond it to who you are. When characters are exposed, they put on a mask to hide inner demons and other parts of their being that they do not wish to reveal. Sometimes that is an inner evil that threatens other members of society, and sometimes it is a deep-rooted pain that has taken hold and is hard to face.

I loved many of the characters. They are all so well-developed, reliable, and intriguingly complex as you realize what their mask is covering. My favorite character, though, has to be Saffyre. The only one of the three narrators whose story is told in the first person. I always admire survivor-type characters – ones that take the whole bucket of lemons that life has given them and make a profitable lemonade stand. Despite her mental health issues, her strength, determination, and fighting-spirit shine through the page. She is independent and has a strong moral compass that makes her want to make the world right for those around her.

I also love how the perspective alternates between three characters, yet only one speaks in the first person while the other two narrate in third person limited. I have never seen this used before, but it helps keep the story clear about whose point of view you are reading through. I can easily be confused by multiple narrators, but this technique allowed me to keep everything clear without losing the unreliability that kept me guessing until the end.

I love the ending that leaves all sorts of creepiness in its wake. I closed the book, and chills went up my spine at the very shocking and disturbing conclusion. That is my favorite part of the story and the part that will stay with me for some time to come.

To Read or Not to Read

If you love psychological thrillers, your reading list will not be complete without this book on it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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About the Book

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Owen Pick’s life is falling apart. In his thirties and living in his aunt’s spare bedroom, he has just been suspended from his job as a teacher after accusations of sexual misconduct—accusations he strongly denies. Searching for professional advice online, he is inadvertently sucked into the dark world of incel forums, where he meets a charismatic and mysterious figure.

Across the street from Owen lives the Fours family, headed by mom Cate, a physiotherapist, and dad Roan, a child psychologist. But the Fours family have a bad feeling about their neighbor Owen. He’s a bit creepy and their teenaged daughter swears he followed her home from the train station one night.

Meanwhile, young Saffyre Maddox spent three years as a patient of Roan Fours. Feeling abandoned when their therapy ends, she searches for other ways to maintain her connection with him, following him in the shadows and learning more than she wanted to know about Roan and his family. Then, on Valentine’s night, Saffyre disappears—and the last person to see her alive is Owen Pick.

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Amazon Link and Preview

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