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Woman's World
The Best Book Plot Twists: 10 Thrilling Reads That Will Keep You on the Edge of Your Seat
By Carissa Mosness,
5 days ago
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All book lovers can agree — nothing beats a good plot twist. That feeling of needing to know what happens next and thinking you have the solution and then gasping out loud when you find out you’re wrong is truly unmatched. But the best book plot twists have you thinking about them long after you’ve turned the last page — and then you find yourself begging your friends to read said book so you can discuss it. Here, we gathered up 10 books with plot twists that will do just that.
Wanting to read a thrilling romance? Pick up Verity by Colleen Hoover. Or, if you prefer historical fiction, try The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid, which has a plot twist readers never see coming.
Keep scrolling for our list of book plot twists (don’t worry — we’re not giving away any spoilers here!). Happy reading!
The story starts in 1999 when Lily Chen, a 22-year-old intern at a media company, meets Matthew. Matthew is laid-back, good-looking, an East Coast native and an heir to a pharmaceutical company — and in many ways, he’s Lily’s opposite. Lily was raised in Florida by two scientists who fled Mao’s Cultural Revolution. Despite their number of differences, Lily and Matthew fall in love and get married. Fast-forward 22 years later, 15-year-old Nick Chen is living with his single mother, Lily, on a remote Washington island. Nick doesn’t feel like he belongs there and he has a sneaking suspicion his mother is hiding something. When he starts to question who his biological father is, he embarks on a journey that leads him to more questions than answers.
What readers are saying: “When I heard this novel being described as a multigenerational story that’s as much a page-turner as it is an eye-opener, I was intrigued,” says Melissa D’Agnese , Woman’s World Senior Editor. “And between Khong’s beautiful writing and imaginative storytelling, it delivered on that promise. This book was told from multiple points of view, which kept me engaged. Part thrilling mystery, part family saga, it’s about identity, privilege, family secrets, lineage — and figuring out how much of the future is actually up to us.”
Hollywood glamour and salacious scandal abound in this spellbinding novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid. The story follows journalist Monique Grant, who is taken aback when the famous and reclusive actress Evelyn Hugo calls her (an unknown writer) to ghostwrite her biography. As Evelyn details her fame in the mid- to late-1900s, she talks about each of her seven marriages, but it soon becomes clear that Evelyn was trying to hide a secret. A marvelous mix of juicy gossip, poignant moments and unforgettable characters.
What readers are saying: “I adore absolutely everything about 1950’s Hollywood, and this book fully transported me there. Between the love story, the captivating drama and the plot twist I never saw coming, I found myself turning pages late into the night. It’s one of the best books I’ve ever read.”
This thrilling fantasy from bestselling author Sarah J. Maas follows Celaena Sardothien, Adarlan’s greatest assassin. After being sentenced to life in prison, Celaena gets the chance of a lifetime: to compete against 23 other murderers, thieves and warriors in a deadly competition. The prize? Her freedom, unimaginable riches and a chance to serve as the King’s Champion. But when an outside force even more deadly turns up, Celaena must decide what truly matters.
What readers are saying: “Celaena’s wit, humor and strength had me cheering for her from the get-go,” says Carey Ostergard , Woman’s World Executive Editor. “Plus, it’s the first of a series — I can’t wait to read more!”
This thrilling tale follows writer Lowen Ashleigh, who is asked by famous author Verity Crawford’s husband, Jeremy, to finish his wife’s series after she is injured in a car accident and is unable to continue writing. Before Verity’s accident, the family suffered the loss of their twin daughters during two separate tragedies. As Lowen goes through Verity’s office and writing, she discovers more and more secrets about the Crawford family.
What readers are saying: “This book got me out of a long reading slump,” says Anna Traver , Woman’s World Assistant Digital Editor. “The story is creepy, atmospheric and addictive — and each chapter closed with a bigger cliffhanger than the last! If you like mysteries and thrillers with lots of twists, you will devour this.”
Bestselling author Lisa Jewell is adored for her captivating, eerie novels, and her latest is a chilling psychological thriller. When popular true-crime podcaster Alix Summer crosses paths with Josie Fair one night, Josie’s strange story piques Alix’s interest. Josie swindles her way into her life but disappears as quickly as she came. Soon, Alix uncovers Josie’s dark and terrifyingly twisted secrets, which threaten Alix’s whole world.
What readers are saying: “ An amazing story with so many twists and turns you won't know what to believe. I could feel the anxiety, the fear, the confusion, and the excitement throughout the book! I will definitely be reading this one again and giving the audiobook a go as well! Highly recommended for psychological thriller lovers!”
Revered for her addicting, pulse-pounding psychological thrillers, Freida McFadden has sold 2 million copies of her bestselling Housemaid series and holds a record-breaking half a billion reads on Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited subscription. In book one of the series, Millie is hired as a maid for the Winchesters. Every day she cleans, cooks, picks their daughter up from school and daydreams about having a life like theirs, but she can’t help feeling like there’s something terribly wrong with Mrs. Winchester. Then, one day Mrs. Winchester discovers that Millie has tried on one of her dresses … so she locks Millie in her attic bedroom. What follows is a startling series of events with a jaw-dropping twist.
What readers are saying: “ This book was so much fun to read! The twists and turns were the best things I’ve read in years, and I love how each character made me feel like I was living in their world. If you are a psychological/thriller fan, I highly recommend reading this book.”
From best-selling author Maggie Shipstead comes another dazzling historical fiction tale filled with twists and turns. After being rescued off a sinking ship as infants in 1914, Marian and Jamie Graves are sent to Montana to live with their uncle. While there, Marian meets a pilot and falls in love with flying. At 14 years old, she sets off to follow her dream of circumnavigating the globe. A century later, actress Hadley Baxter is cast to play Marian in a film about her life. Told in a dual timeline, Hadley and Marian face troubles, all in the hopes of achieving their dreams.
What readers are saying: “When a friend recommended this book to me, she said the story was riveting,” says Sienna Sullivan , Woman's World Editorial Assitant. “And it exceeded my expectations! It’s an inspiring tale of women charting their own course in life.”
Part psychological thriller, part detective case, this inventive story by Alex Michaelides stuns and startles. From the outside, Alicia and her husband seem to have it all: She’s a famous painter married to a fashion photographer and she lives in a beautiful house with windows overlooking a park in London. But one evening her husband Gabriel returns home late from a fashion shoot and Alicia shoots him five times. Then, she never speaks another word. She’s placed in a psychiatric facility until criminal psychotherapist Theo Faber arrives to try to unravel the puzzling murder…which threatens to consume him.
What readers are saying : “For me, it wouldn’t be an excellent thriller without a crazy twist at the book’s end,” says Courtney Shapiro , Woman’s World Digital Assistant Editor. “And this story shocked me so much! I wasn’t expecting for Michaelides to take this route. I highly recommend The Silent Patient if you want to be on the edge of your seat.”
Unforgettable twists and turns abound in A Good Girls Guide to Murder . Five years ago, high schooler Andie Bell was murdered by her boyfriend, Sal Singh, who then went on to take his own life. The events shook the town. Now, high-school senior Pip is determined to figure out exactly what went down on that dreadful night. How could kind, smart Sal be a killer, and why didn’t the police investigate more? Pip is determined to figure it all out, and nothing could prepare her for what she finds.
What readers are saying: “ The reveal in this book had me slapping my hand over my mouth in disbelief. There were so many suspects someone may have fallen through the cracks. And a mystery fiend like me, I love being stumped. It was so good, especially when the mystery kept on giving.”
An eerie page-turning tale unfolds in this cult classic novel. On her fifth wedding anniversary, Amy goes missing from the Missouri home she shares with her husband, Nick. His odd behavior immediately afterward makes him the police’s prime suspect, and the ensuing media circus turns Amy’s parents and the neighbors against him, leaving only his twin sister Margo to believe in his innocence. What follows is a blend of love, trust and a plot twist no one will see coming.
What readers are saying: “ From the very first page, I was drawn into the twisted world of Nick and Amy Dunne and could not stop reading. The switch between the first-person narrative of Nick’s story – told in real-time – and Amy’s story told through a diary, worked exceptionally well. It’s really hard to say too much about the story without giving away spoilers, and with this story, you do not want to see any spoilers because when the twists hit, it smacks you upside the head so hard and fast, that you’ll have to take a minute to absorb what you just read as you gasp ‘NO WAY!’”
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