Book Review: One of the Good Guys by Araminta Hall

Okay, so for the first 55% of this book, I was side-eying my Kindle like… where are we going with this, babes? It felt like driving through fog—interesting atmosphere, intriguing setup, but no clear destination in sight. And then, BAM. Araminta Hall hit the gas, the fog cleared, and I was fully strapped in.

This book is a slow burn, and not in the sexy way—more like the kind that creeps up on you and suddenly you realize, oh, this is about something bigger. It’s sharp, provocative, and unflinchingly points the flashlight at the murky waters of “good guy” behavior, male entitlement, and the ever-present threat women feel just by existing in the world. It’s unsettling, bold, and has things to say.

Cole, the main character? Let's just say if Nick Dunne from Gone Girl had a British cousin who listened to a lot of true crime podcasts to prove how feminist he was… it'd be him. You’ll hate him, question him, and then hate him a little more.

But while the message is important and the execution brave, the pacing and structure left me a little frustrated. The first half asks a lot of patience, and I can imagine some readers bailing before the payoff. Still, if you're into moral ambiguity, social commentary, and characters who make your skin crawl in a deliciously uncomfortable way, this one’s worth a go.

Would I recommend it to the Ladies Who Lit community? Yes—but with the warning that it's a thinker, not a thriller. And you will want to throw the book across the room at least once. Maybe twice.