Cross My Heart
- Judith D Collins
- Jan 13
- 8 min read
Updated: Jan 27
By: Megan Collins
Narrator: Gail Shalan, Chris Andrew Ciulla Simon & Schuster Audio
ISBN: 9781668048078
Publisher: Atria Books
Publication Date: 01/14/2025
Format: Hardcover & audio
My Rating: 5 Stars (ARC)
She has his dead wife’s heart; the one she wants is his. The author of The Family Plot brings her signature “taut, emotionally charged, and propulsive” (Jeneva Rose, New York Times bestselling author) prose to a twisty novel about a heart transplant patient who becomes romantically obsessed with her donor’s husband.
Rosie Lachlan wants nothing more than to find The One.
A year after she was dumped in her wedding dress, she’s working at her parents’ bridal salon, anxious for a happy ending that can’t come soon enough. After receiving a life-saving heart transplant, Rosie knows her health is precious and precarious. She suspects her heart donor is Daphne Thorne, the wife of local celebrity author Morgan Thorne, who she begins messaging via an anonymous service called DonorConnect, ostensibly to learn more about Daphne. But Rosie has a secret: She’s convinced that now that she has his wife’s heart, she and Morgan are meant to be together.
As she and Morgan correspond, the pretense of avoiding personal details soon disappears, even if Rosie’s keeping some cards close to her chest. But as she digs deeper into Morgan’s previous marriage, she discovers disturbing rumors about the man she’s falling for. Could Morgan have had something to do with his late wife’s death? And can Rosie’s heart sustain another break—or is she next?
“I’ve been editing Megan Collins since her 2019 debut novel, The Winter Sister, but when she sent me the pitch for this new novel, I had goosebumps. This novel is Megan’s most ambitious novel, as well as her twistiest, walking a razor-thin line between infatuation and obsession to deliver major thrills. Megan has described Rosie, her protagonist, as a woman who thinks she’s living a rom-com, only to realize it’s a thriller—a kind of twisted You’ve Got Mail. And if you don’t trust me, read the first few chapters and you’ll be hooked!”
—Kaitlin O., Executive Editor, on Cross My Heart
Praise
“Part (possible) murder mystery, part deep dive into out-of-control social media addiction, and part sleight-of-hand trick by the author....terrific.” —The New York Times
“[S]pine-tingling… Collins expertly homes in on her characters’ complexities, nailing the way Rosie’s vulnerability gradually slips into obsession. With a pulse-pounding finale and plenty of exciting plot twists along the way, this is difficult to put down.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Collins, who specializes in fiendishly clever psychological thrillers (including The Family Plot, 2021) outdoes herself here with a jaw-dropping premise that tightens into a deadly cat-and-mouse game… Collins keeps the suspense at cauldron-bubbling intensity throughout. A bravura performance.”
—Booklist (starred review)
“Though absorbing and binge-able, this book is a triumph for more than just its entertainment value. Alongside the work of fellow authors such as Jacqueline Bublitz and Gillian Flynn, Collins’s fifth novel helps shape a new generation of thrillers that furthers the conversation about who gets to tell women’s stories and what kinds of women are deemed worthy of compassion.”
—Bookstr
"Original, fast-paced, and with a twist in the middle that will leave your jaw on the floor, Cross My Heart deserves to be at the top of your must-read list!"
—Amy Engel, author of I Did It For You and The Roanoke Girls
"If Nora Ephron had written your favorite thriller, it would be Cross My Heart. Equal parts spine-tingling and soul-wrenching, Collins' latest unpacks the perils of parasocial relationships and the lies we tell ourselves with devilish wit, sizzling prose and a hair-raiser of a plot. The twists will have your jaw on the floor and your heart beating in time to Rosie's borrowed one. A true pulse-pounder with one question at its core: how far would you go to be with the one you (think you) love?"
—Leah Konen, author of The Last Room on the Left
“Part love story, part thriller, Cross My Heart is a sharply clever, highly entertaining, shifting kaleidoscope of a mystery.”
—Kimberly McCreight, New York Times bestselling author of Like Mother, Like Daughter
“With her fifth novel, Megan Collins proves once again why she should be on everyone’s must-read list! Cross Your Heart is the best type of psychological suspense–one that you want to immediately read again once you get to the last satisfying page. It has everything I love as a reader – an unreliable yet sympathetic narrator, cast of deliciously twisted people, razor sharp observations about relationships, and one twist after another. I read it in one night!”
—Kellye Garrett, award winning author of Missing White Woman
"Cross My Heart is a smart-as-a-whip thriller: electric, original, juicy, and full of clever twists and turns. Rosie Lachlan gives major Joe Goldberg vibes in the BEST way—an unhinged heroine fixated on love, with a big heart and an even bigger edge to her. Megan Collins is a master of suspense, with the ability to balance a page-turning plot with absolutely sparkling prose—I am in awe."
—Halley Sutton, USA Today bestselling author of The Hurricane Blonde
“When Rosie Lachlan's heart transplant leads her to her donor’s husband, a renowned crime fiction author, she thinks she’s finally found 'the one’…but will Rosie’s longing for true love blind her to the suspicious nature of his wife’s death? It’s rare to find a thriller that strikes a perfect balance between mystery and emotional complexity, but that’s the magic of Cross My Heart. Expect relentless tension, skillful misdirection, poet-worthy prose, and one of the best binge-reading sessions of your life. Megan Collins has outdone herself, and Cross My Heart is a triumph."
—Tessa Wegert, author of The Coldest Case
"Shocking, clever, and thoroughly enthralling. With its graceful prose and utterly jaw-dropping moments, this twisted yet heartfelt tale of deadly obsession is impossible to put down. A hypnotic stunner."
—Heather Chavez, author of Before She Finds Me and What We’ll Burn Last
My Review
Megan Collins, a favorite author among many, returns following Thicker Than Water and The Family Plot with her most gripping novel yet, CROSS MY HEART.
In this heart-stopping tale, a heart transplant patient becomes dangerously obsessed with her donor’s husband, leading to a deadly game of cat and mouse filled with unexpected twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat!
Audiobook...
An update to my review: After reading the book and enjoying it immensely, I purchased the audiobook narrated by a favorite narrator, the mega-talented Gail Shalan and Chris Andrew Ciull. With passion and intensity, Gail was the perfect Rosie, paired with Chris, who excelled as Morgan, making this a highly entertaining performance. I highly recommend the audiobook.
INTERVIEW: Check out my upcoming Feb (blog/newsletter) Q&A with Gail Shalan, the first in my #AudioElevatorSeries where we go behind the mic, the audio, and the narrator for exclusives of CROSS MY HEART and her three other Jan audiobooks as well as upcoming projects.
About...
Meet Rosie Lachlan pink hair and a true romantic. The wearer of Rosie-colored glasses when it comes to LOVE.
She works in her parents' bridal salon (Just Say Yes) and dreams of a happily ever after, even after her fiancée dumped her. She keeps her wedding dress as a reminder of her broken heart and a one day in the future.
She has a good heart and is a true romantic. But things never work out in the guy department. She is over the top and takes things to the extreme, which drives them away instead. Rosie had cardiomyopathy and needed a heart transplant. She receives one from a famous author, Morgan Thorne's wife. Daphne died in a bathroom accident. She hates to think someone had to die in order for her to live.
She begins messaging Morgan through DonorConnect, to learn more about her (and then him). Then she becomes obsessed, thinking since she has his wife's heart, they are meant to be together and have a connection...to the tune of OBSESSION.
Is he her soulmate or a killer?
They begin corresponding, and as she digs deeper into his past marriage, she discovers rumors about him. Was Morgan involved in his wife's death?
Is she seeing things as they are for how she wants them to be? Is she viewing the world through Rosie-colored glasses like her friend Nina suspects? Had she been wrong about all the men in her life? She looks for the best in people.
Rosie wants more than anything to be loved. But does she take it too far? Has she missed what is right in front of her? Is there someone else? Does she love so deeply that it makes her blind?
Then, there is a mystery to solve... Murder, revenge, passion, obsession. How far would you go for LOVE?
My thoughts...
Megan, CROSS MY HEART is a masterpiece that will leave readers in awe of your talent. The unexpected twists and turns, the Taylor Swift playlist, and the Friends references will keep you guessing and thoroughly entertained. You won't want to miss the wild ride Megan takes you on!
A twisted tale of secrets, suspense, and unexpected twists! What is not to love?
With her endearing quirks and unwavering romanticism, Rosie is a character you'll root for. Her journey, especially after receiving a heart that once belonged to someone else, is compelling. The mystery surrounding Daphne's death adds an intriguing layer to the story, leaving you with more questions and a sense of connection to Rosie's emotional journey.
From unique storytelling, beautiful poetry, skillful misdirection, superb characterization, lyrical prose, suspense, jaw-dropping twists, quirkiness, razor-sharp wit, romantic suspense, emotionally charged topics, gaslighting, manipulation, murder, revenge, obsession, stalker vibes, and more than a thriller—it is thought-provoking, witty, compelling, psychologically rich and a road to self-discovery and survival.
And yes, a clever, unpredictable, original who, how, and whydunit! I enjoyed the satisfying ending and appreciated the author's note and the additional reading resources.
First, let me say that I am a huge Megan Collins long-time fan. I have read all five of her books and have featured her three times on my #AuthorElevatorSeries, a series where I interview and promote talented authors and connect with readers. She is also hilarious on social media. Yes, we do have the same last name even though, unfortunately, we are not related. I would love a famous author in the family - perhaps a niece or daughter to adopt. Plus, we also share a love of golden retrievers. Just saying... in the event she is open to adoption by one of her fans, plus I love her tiny collections. And I love her books. No stalking. 💜
Recs...
CROSS MY HEART is for avid fans of the author and readers who enjoy Colleen Hoover, Jo Jo Moyes, Mary Burton, Jennifer Hillier, Wendy Walker, Kaira Rouda, Freida McFadden, and the TV series Tell Me Lies. Think a modern-day You've Got Mail meets Seven Pounds and The Girl on the Train with a twist.
Thanks a million to Atria Books for an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars +
Pub Date: Jan 14, 2024
About the Author
Photo by Tania Palermo
Megan Collins is the author of Cross My Heart, Thicker Than Water, The Family Plot, Behind the Red Door, and The Winter Sister. She taught creative writing for many years at both the high school and college level and is the managing editor of 3Elements Literary Review. She lives in Connecticut, where she obsesses over dogs, miniatures, and cake.
She lives in Connecticut, where she obsesses over dogs, miniatures, and cake. WEBSITE
