Q&A: Andrea Mara, Author of It Should Have Been You

Q&A: Andrea Mara, Author of It Should Have Been You

Briefly tell us about your book.

It Should Have Been You is about Susan who writes a mean message about her neighbour to her sisters, but accidentally sends it to the entire neighbourhood WhatsApp group. All hell breaks loose over the contents of the message, and within days four people are dead and Susan is in fear of her life.

What inspired the idea behind your book?

I’m in a local WhatsApp group for the area where I live and there are frequent messages sent in error. Usually harmless but sometimes less so and it got me thinking about what could potentially go wrong if someone sent a very deragatory message about a neighbour!

If I looked at your internet history, what would it reveal about you?

That I’m either a murderer or a crime writer, with searches like:

What kind of poisons are found in everyday household items and might look like a heart attack
If someone is drugged with GHB, how long does it take to leave their system?

Do you write about people you know? Or yourself?

I don’t write about people I know, but I’m conscious too that all fictional characters come from somewhere, they are composites of the thousands of real-life people I’ve met over time. I do write about myself. I’d say most of my main characters across eight books are versions of me, though sometimes only in very small ways.

Does the creative process get easier for you with each book?

I think I’ve found a rhythm that works for me, I know how to best plan out a book, I know that getting a first draft down as quickly as possible suits me, but somehow, that first draft is still so, so hard to write – I wish it would get easier!

Buy a copy of It Should Have Been You here.

Reviews

Your Preview Verdict: It Should Have Been You by Andrea Mara

Review | Preview

27 May 2025

Your Preview Verdict: It Should Have Been You by Andrea Mara

    A Gripping, Unputdownable Thriller: Read an Extract from It Should Have Been You by Andrea Mara

    Review | Extract

    13 May 2025

    A Gripping, Unputdownable Thriller: Read an Extract from It Should Have Been You by Andrea Mara

      Better Reading Preview: It Should Have Been You by Andrea Mara

      Review | Preview

      7 April 2025

      Better Reading Preview: It Should Have Been You by Andrea Mara

        Publisher details

        It Should Have Been You
        Author
        Andrea Mara
        Publisher
        Penguin
        Genre
        Fiction
        Released
        06 May, 2025
        ISBN
        9780857505880

        Synopsis

        Look what you started.
        You text your sister. Your message is full of gossip about your neighbour. But you accidentally send it to the entire local community WhatsApp group instead.

        Now everyone knows.
        As rumour spreads like wildfire through the picture-perfect neighbourhood, you convince yourself that people will move on, that this will quickly be forgotten. But then you receive the first death threat.

        And someone wants you dead.
        The next day, a woman has been murdered. And what’s even more chilling is that she had the same address as you – 26 Oakpark – but in a different part of town. Did the killer get the wrong house? It won’t be long before you find out…

        Andrea Mara
        About the author

        Andrea Mara

        Andrea Mara is a Sunday Times and Irish Times top ten bestselling author, and has been shortlisted for a number of awards, including Irish Crime Novel of the Year. She lives in Dublin, Ireland, with her husband and three children. No One Saw a Thing, her most recent novel, sold more than 100,000 copies in thirteen weeks and was No.1 Kindle and Irish bestseller.

        Books by Andrea Mara

        COMMENTS

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        1. Gregory Freeman says:

          Andrea Mara’s interview about It Should Have Been You offers fascinating insights into her writing process and the inspiration behind the novel. Her ability to weave suspense with emotional depth makes her work truly compelling.

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        5. Sesame AI says:

          Sounds like a page-turner! That WhatsApp group scenario is so relatable, makes you wonder what secrets people are hiding.

        6. Gary Fraga says:

          “It Should Have Been You” is a gripping thriller born from everyday WhatsApp mishaps, blending sharp observation with dark twists. E-ZPass in Florida

        7. tommyrider2000 says:

          I just finished reading about Andrea Mara’s new book, “It Should Have Been You,” and it sounds like such a wild ride! The idea of accidentally sending a nasty message to the whole neighborhood is hilarious yet terrifying, and I can totally see how that could spiral out of control. If you’re interested in checking out more about the book or even buying a copy, you can find it here: https://coolzino.com.gr/ It’s fascinating how everyday technology can lead to unexpected chaos, and I can’t wait to see how Susan navigates the fallout from her mistake. Definitely adding this one to my reading list!