Readers Guide for It Should Have Been You

Susan, a schoolteacher on maternity leave after the birth of her daughter Bella, means to sends a snarky message to her sister about the Geary family’s exploits. Instead she mistakenly sends it to the entire neighborhood Facebook group. The message exposes Warren Geary’s possible affair and mentions the Geary children.

The Murders Commence

Susan deletes her post, but reposts go viral. Someone throws a brick through her family’s window.

Savannah Holmes, a woman who lives at the same address as Susan in a neighboring town, is murdered.

Aimee Quinlan, the woman Susan saw Warren cheating with, also gets murdered, along with her husband Rory.

Everyone Gets Paranoid

Susan finds a bracelet intended for another woman in her husband’s drawer. She starts snooping on Jon.

Venetia feels guilty because her sister Aimee’s husband was abusive. She assumes Rory must have killed Aimee and wishes she’d successfully convinced Aimee to leave him.

Nika Geary, angry because Susan’s post exposed her hooking up with another girl’s boyfriend, steals Maeve’s diary and posts pages online. Nika has a nut allergy and someone puts nuts on Nika’s food.

Jon realizes that Susan found the bracelet. He wonders if Susan killed Savannah.

Susan starts confiding in Felipe, Venetia’s husband. Felipe feels guilty because he forwarded a screenshot of Susan’s post to Rory.

Venetia starts messing with Susan by moving her baby around.

Susan wonders if Venetia was actually the one who was making out with Warren. She and Aimee look alike.

Nika hits Maeve with her mother’s car and drives away.

In a flashback, we see Savannah threaten to tell Susan about their affair. Jon asks Greta to pretend to be Savannah and tell her they have an open marriage.

Things Get Very Dramatic

Venetia shows up at Susan’s house and grabs Bella. She tells Susan she has to pay for Aimee’s death. Susan can choose one person to save: Greta or Bella.

Greta tells Susan to choose Bella. Venetia forces Susan to inject Greta with heroin. Venetia drives off with Bella, but crashes into Felipe’s car. She takes Bella out of the car and raises a knife over her.

When Felipe tries to intervene, Venetia stabs him. Susan, who has come running out, hits Venetia with a tire iron.

Felipe dies, but Greta is fine, as the naltrexone she was taking for her painkiller addition counteracted the heroin.

Who Killed Whom in It Should Have Been You?

Venetia killed Rory. She found Aimee’s body. Rory passed out after beating Aimee to death, so Venetia smashed his head with a weight.

Venetia also killed Felipe, who is trying to stop her from kidnapping Bella.

Savannah was the one who threw the brick through Susan and Jon’s window. She did this after she found out that Jon was married.

Greta killed Savannah. She found out that Savannah, not Albie, was driving the car that hit her and ruined her health.

It’s a bit unclear who put nuts on Nika’s food. Greta and Maeve blame each other.

I love Bex’s theory (in comments) that it could have been Aiofe, whom no one suspects!

And YES I think she’s right. It was Aiofe, and here’s why:

• A parent was sure saw Maeve in the girls locker room, wearing a hoodie and hat in the warm weather.
• At the very end, the book makes a big deal of Aiofe borrowing Maeve’s distinctive bright purple hat.