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debs_shelves's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
3.5
Solid debut and 3.5 stars.
We meet sisters, Cassie and Lenora, and I was definitely immediately interested in hearing their story. And boy did they have a story!
There were multiple POVs and timelines, and I will admit that sometimes on the audio (I had both audio and eARC), I was confused and wasn't sure who or what timeline it was in. I ended up reading more of the eARC because I found it easier to follow.
And that ending!
Will definitely look for more from this author.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press and Dreamscape Media for eARC and ALC in exchange for my honest review.
We meet sisters, Cassie and Lenora, and I was definitely immediately interested in hearing their story. And boy did they have a story!
There were multiple POVs and timelines, and I will admit that sometimes on the audio (I had both audio and eARC), I was confused and wasn't sure who or what timeline it was in. I ended up reading more of the eARC because I found it easier to follow.
And that ending!
Will definitely look for more from this author.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press and Dreamscape Media for eARC and ALC in exchange for my honest review.
rebeccathebookworm's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Oh my god, this book had my heart RACING. I'm relatively new to the thriller genre but I found myself unable to put this book down and finished it in a single day.
An age old story of love and the things people are willing to do in its name told in a totally new and thrilling way.
An age old story of love and the things people are willing to do in its name told in a totally new and thrilling way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse and Sexual violence
justinevandale's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
3.0
I was so excited when I received a copy of this eBook from Net Galley. Poisoned Pen Press always releases book that peak my interest. When She Was Me definately peaked my interest. The biggest selling point was the twin aspect, there’s so many ways that that trope (does twins count as a trope? lol) can go. Now unfortunately me and this book didn’t jive for some reason. I enjoyed the alternating time frames and it definitely tricked me (I can’t tell you more or it would spoil it). I have guessed the ending, but the other half I didn’t see coming. And this was a quick read for me. I would still recommend it to mystery/ thriller lovers. I think other readers will have rated it higher.
The characters I didn’t really connect with. Like I previously stated I enjoyed the twin trope. I think I was a bit confused at the whole “why?” The story is actually unfolding and some of the parts I got lost. Sometimes I couldn’t remember which twin was who when they were doing things so it would confuse the storyline for me. The Tilly part still seems weird to me because we don’t really get the details even when we find out. And Lenora’s like nightmares/ dreams parts were confusing and they actually made me believe that the book was going to have a supernatural element (which I don’t like so I’m glad that was a incorrect guess on my part). The character that was the most interesting to me is Wayne and we learn nothing about him lol.
Like I mentioned earlier I think a lot of people will love this story it just wasn’t the best I have read but it was still a good read. Thanks again to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the copy to review.
The characters I didn’t really connect with. Like I previously stated I enjoyed the twin trope. I think I was a bit confused at the whole “why?” The story is actually unfolding and some of the parts I got lost. Sometimes I couldn’t remember which twin was who when they were doing things so it would confuse the storyline for me. The Tilly part still seems weird to me because we don’t really get the details even when we find out. And Lenora’s like nightmares/ dreams parts were confusing and they actually made me believe that the book was going to have a supernatural element (which I don’t like so I’m glad that was a incorrect guess on my part). The character that was the most interesting to me is Wayne and we learn nothing about him lol.
Like I mentioned earlier I think a lot of people will love this story it just wasn’t the best I have read but it was still a good read. Thanks again to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the copy to review.
rahanahava's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
4.25 stars
It was a solid 4 star read for me, but when I found out it was a debut, I added an extra 1/4 star because...wow.
Cassie and Lenora are fascinating. As an only child, any sibling dynamic just boggles my mind, but twins (and not just any twins, but monoamniotic twins--identical twins that share an amniotic sac) added to the want I had internally to know anything/everything I could about them as individuals and also as sisters. Their co-dependent bond that causes unwavering loyalty solidified from "that day" in their past kept me intrigued when the plot slowed down in some parts.
The mystery surrounding Tilly's death and the dual POV (both from then and now which came together seamlessly in the end), and what (or who) was in the woods with them really had my spidey sense tingling the entire story.
This book did something that I really don't like in mysteries. It has the big reveal be something that really wasn't introduced in the story so the reader wouldn't really have the opportunity to put the pieces together on their own, but that wasn't 100% the case here. There were allusions where I had the ah-ha moment of realizing that there was an unreliable narrator in my midst and that made the big reveal more enjoyable to me (Oh, how I do adore an unreliable narrator).
It was an interesting choice to have Imani Jade Powers voice both sisters, but considering that they're identical twins (even if they're VERY different people) actually made it work in this setting. Imani did a wonderful job making each character different yet the same.
Thank you, NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC.
It was a solid 4 star read for me, but when I found out it was a debut, I added an extra 1/4 star because...wow.
Cassie and Lenora are fascinating. As an only child, any sibling dynamic just boggles my mind, but twins (and not just any twins, but monoamniotic twins--identical twins that share an amniotic sac) added to the want I had internally to know anything/everything I could about them as individuals and also as sisters. Their co-dependent bond that causes unwavering loyalty solidified from "that day" in their past kept me intrigued when the plot slowed down in some parts.
The mystery surrounding Tilly's death and the dual POV (both from then and now which came together seamlessly in the end), and what (or who) was in the woods with them really had my spidey sense tingling the entire story.
This book did something that I really don't like in mysteries. It has the big reveal be something that really wasn't introduced in the story so the reader wouldn't really have the opportunity to put the pieces together on their own, but that wasn't 100% the case here. There were allusions where I had the ah-ha moment of realizing that there was an unreliable narrator in my midst and that made the big reveal more enjoyable to me (Oh, how I do adore an unreliable narrator).
It was an interesting choice to have Imani Jade Powers voice both sisters, but considering that they're identical twins (even if they're VERY different people) actually made it work in this setting. Imani did a wonderful job making each character different yet the same.
Thank you, NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC.
dmagboul's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This is a debut novel by this author, the premise of the book sounded really good and I was excited to read it. This book is told in dual timelines and MPOVS. Twin sisters: Cassie and Lenora had a tragic event happen to them which leads them to taking up residence in the woods in a cabin they rent from a reclusive landlord who owns the camp grounds. I honestly struggled to connect with the characters in this book. I personally found Lenora insufferable and kinda whinny. If you are looking for a fast paced thriller this might be for you. This is more of a slow burn book. When new neigh its move into the cabin next door to Cassie and Lenora things start to happen. The daughter goes missing and is found dead the next day. But what happened? And did Cassie or Lenora have something to do with it. Honestly I found parts of this book confusing does Lenora suffer from mental health issues?? Overall the book was okay but I felt like the middle of the book was kinda boring starting around 28% in. Parts of it seemed repetitive.
reading_under_covers's review against another edition
4.0
Identical twins, Lenora and Cassie, have been living in Cabin Two at an isolated campground in an effort to escape their past and “that night.” When the grounds come under new management, and the teenage daughter of a visiting family goes missing, Cassie and Lenora both start reliving the past and begin to question who they can trust.
WHEN SHE WAS ME by Marlee Bush is a really strong debut suspense novel!
The sisters were both intriguing characters with very interesting careers and the isolated campground setting was so so good!
The alternating past timeline kept the suspense up and also had me questioning everything I thought to be true.
This one is on the lengthier side, which I didn’t feel was completely necessary, but it still managed to be a quick read regardless.
I’m definitely curious to see where Marlee goes from here!
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Publication Date: May 7
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Pedophilia and Rape
inked_up_bookshelf's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
When She was Me is a debut author and you wouldn't notice. I was enthralled in this story that by the time I hit the ending I was SHOOK/shocked. Twin sisters, Cassie and Lenora have that "twin thing", you know that bond people sometimes talk about. Their past was a rocky one, so they chose the secluded life in the woods. All was okay until a teenager in the cabin next door went missing.
This story is a page turning that you just want to keep reading so you can find out if the evidence presented is the truth or a false reality.
I highly recommend this story to anyone who loves a good blood pumping murder mystery.
The narrator Imani Jade Powers did a wonderful job at capturing the story and what emotion needed to be portrayed when. I devoured this audiobook and I was left amazed.
This story is a page turning that you just want to keep reading so you can find out if the evidence presented is the truth or a false reality.
I highly recommend this story to anyone who loves a good blood pumping murder mystery.
The narrator Imani Jade Powers did a wonderful job at capturing the story and what emotion needed to be portrayed when. I devoured this audiobook and I was left amazed.
theoceanrose's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Death, Blood, and Murder
Minor: Mental illness
shelovestoread81's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
4.0
**I got this book for free from Poisoned Press. Thank you for the opportunity to read this book.**
This debut novel from Marlee Bush was amazing. This book is told in 3 POV’s, Cassie, Lenora and “Then”. This is about twin sisters that live in a tiny cabin in the middle of nowhere Kentucky. Cassie and Lenora are hiding away from something. What happened to their dad when they were younger? Where did Tilly go? Did Lenora do that? Why are the twins lying to each other? This was a fantastic book.
This debut novel from Marlee Bush was amazing. This book is told in 3 POV’s, Cassie, Lenora and “Then”. This is about twin sisters that live in a tiny cabin in the middle of nowhere Kentucky. Cassie and Lenora are hiding away from something. What happened to their dad when they were younger? Where did Tilly go? Did Lenora do that? Why are the twins lying to each other? This was a fantastic book.
readwithkyladawngail's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I am typically not a huge fan of a slow burn thriller but the atmosphere and eeriness kept me intrigued and the ending packed a punch.