The New Girl - Harriet Walker

Description
How far would someone go to replace you? A new mother on maternity leave grows increasingly paranoid about her ambitious young temp in this Hitchcockian debut from the fashion editor at The Times (UK) .

Margot is the object of every woman's envy: as an editor at Haute, she has a glamorous job, a beautiful new baby girl, a seemingly perfect life. But when Margot's lifelong friend, Winnie, loses her own newborn boy, their shared dream of pushing strollers together turns to ash. And then there is the matter of Margot's maternity temp: bright, plucky, ambitious Maggie--the young woman Margot chose, but who now seems to be trying to eclipse her in every possible way.

When a cyber-stalker emerges, mocking Margot's façade of perfection and threatening to expose a dark secret she's spent years repressing, Margot feels attacked from all sides. Soon, the innocent preoccupations of motherhood spiral quickly--and perhaps lethally--into a frightening and irretrievable paranoia.

The New Girl is whiplash-paced, and a harrowing look into the profound sense of insecurity that prowls deep in the psyches of women everywhere. 

Review
As I love The Devil Wears Prada and Ugly Betty I was attracted to this novel set in a fashion magazine. It didn't disappoint as Maggie began the maternity cover for Margot and was like a child in a sweet shop, not believing her good fortune with designer clothes, shoes etc, all hers for the taking (as long as she gives them back!).

The thriller aspect comes from a cyber-stalker who seems to know a lot about Margot and her past. The stalker begins to leave unwelcome comments on Maggie's social media where they know Margot is following every step her temporary replacement is taking in her shoes.

The book is told from the perspective of Margot, then Maggie and then Winnie, who is Margot's childhood friend. Hearing the story told through each voice gave such depth to the story. Especially when Margot is bemoaning her figure whilst looking at Maggie's curves online, whilst Maggie is worried about her curves against the pre pregnancy figure of willow like Margot. All the nuances of social media insecurity are here and highlighted, although in truth they were always there just not publicised.

There is a fraught ending which had me re evaluating all I had previously read. I'm giving this book 5 out of 5 stars.

My thanks to Bookends for an advance copy of the book. The book is out on 14 May 2020.