When I first heard of With Malice, I was intrigued. I've seen a lot of hype for the novel and I knew I had to get my hands on it. Now, of course, plenty of hyped novels don't live up to their expectations. While some of my hopes and dreams were not fulfilled, I have to say I'm glad I listened to the hype. I had the most fun reading Eileen Cook's novel. It's easily a one day read for anyone with a couple of hours to spare. And that cover is so gorgeous! I'd love to have it on my shelves. 
 The novel is a thriller through and through, and yet it is not very mysterious like most books in this genre. Perhaps I'm the odd reader in a bundle, but I "figured out" the ending very early on. I still enjoyed the second half as details were connected and the story came full circle, but nothing gets me more excited than a wild, unforeseen twist. 
 While I do love some of the characters, With Malice is not character driven. A few characters are walking stereotypes, but it's not as big of an issue as it is in other books. Anna is the absolute best. Jill and Simone remind me of my relationship with my best friend, which made me take some elements to heart. I often felt sympathetic toward Jill, too. She goes through a terrible life-altering event, costing her her best friend. Within the first few chapters of the book, I wanted to give up and cry. I can't imagine having to live the rest of my life with the guilt of even possibly being the cause of my best friend's demise. That's heart-wrenching. Jill doesn't even have the time or privacy to grieve! I also had times where I questioned if what they're saying about her is true. As always, I give the benefit of the doubt, but I hopped the fence more than once as new evidence unrolled. Especially since she is a very unreliable narrator. Jill's memory is definitely not the most accurate right now and as we read through Facebook feeds, emails, and interview transcripts, we learn that the truth isn't so simple. 
 While there is a boy, there is no romance or adventure - I'm used to my protagonists investigating crime themselves instead of waiting for information to come to them (see: The Girl on the Train). Most of the novel takes place in a hospital and rehab center. I would have enjoyed some time in Italy, but our time in Italy is spent through secondhand experiences. Nothing more fun than reading about a story abroad, but that's not quite what this book is about. The novel focuses on Jill's personal issues with her self, the stress, and her best friend, rather than the murder, which is incredibly important. This isn't just about action-packed fun, but the mind. 
 With Malice isn't a perfect novel, but it is undoubtedly an enjoyable read. I flew through this book. Every time I sat down to read, I would devour a large chunk. I just couldn't put it down...until I figured it out at about the half way point. It's not a book I'm dying to reread, yet I'm glad I did all the same. There are some quotes I've taken to heart and will carry with me. 
 With Malice comes out June 7th, tomorrow for the States and today everywhere else. 
 I received an eARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. 
 Plot: 3/5 
 Characters: 2/5 
 Writing Style: 3/5 
 All Around Idea: 3/5 
 Total: 3/5 
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