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cj_mo_2222's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Cassie and Lenora are identical twins who went through a traumatic event together and now live in a campground in Tennessee. Lenora is able to work as a ghostwriter, but barely steps outside their small cabin. Cassie does a true crime podcast, putting herself in the shoes of the victims whose deaths she covers. Cassie is always there to protect Lenora from others and from herself. Things begin to change for the twins when a teenage girl arrives with her parents for a short camping trip and goes missing. What happened to Tilly and what secrets are Cassie and Lenora keeping from each other?
This book is told from both Cassie and Lenora's present point-of-view as well as an unidentified person in the past. The story is intriguing, but at times confusing. Both sisters keep referring to an incident in their past, but the reader isn't given details on what it was. The "past" narration is also kept purposely vague to keep up the suspense, but for me the repetition sometimes slowed the pace of the story. I was able to figure out some of the plot twists before they were revealed. After some slow chapters in the middle, the ending picks up and I was surprised when all of the secrets finally came out. Better pacing would have made the book more suspenseful for me, but it's still an entertaining read.
I received an advance copy of this ebook at no cost from NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and Sourcebooks. My review is voluntary and unbiased.
kaavyareadsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC.
Wow, this was creepy. I literally got the chills from reading this book. And that ending was shocking. This book kept me questioning till the end. I just had to find out what the truth was.
Wow, this was creepy. I literally got the chills from reading this book. And that ending was shocking. This book kept me questioning till the end. I just had to find out what the truth was.
mars243's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
summerbende's review against another edition
3.0
This book was OK for me. I feel that there was a lot of repetition. There were some twists In the book that had me surprised but not until the end. Up to that point I thought it was kind of slow.
marsbarz0903's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is a book that kept me on the edge of my seat. I was skeptical because of the lower page count (270), but the there were times where I was almost literally stressed out and biting my nails. My favorite aspect of the book was the mystery of it, the whole time I’m trying to fit these pieces together and they never fit quite right. I HATE predictable mystery/thrillers. It takes the fun out of reading. I can genuinely say the plot twist at the end is something I NEVER would have guessed and it had me REELING.
Essentially, the book is about two traumatized sisters that went through a tragedy together. One sister is a bit more put together (the caretaker) and the other suffers with anxiety and agoraphobia. These sisters live out in a cabin in the woods of Tennessee. Life is fairly normal (for them) until a teenage camper in the neighboring cabin goes missing. Suddenly, the trust between the sisters begins to strain as one of them begins lying to other about their whereabouts the night the girl went missing. How can she trust her sister, when her sister can’t even trust herself and is losing grip on her own reality?
Pick this book up. Add this to your TBR. You will not be disappointed. Marlee Bush is a rising thriller queen. 👑
inkreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
When She Was Me by Marlee Bush and narrated by Imani Jade Powers is a sinister tale of twin sisters Cassie and Lenora, isolated in a Tennessee campground after a shared trauma that has left Lenora with persistent nightmares and anxiety. They are hiding away from the questions of that night, until a family come to stay in the cabin next door... and their teenage daughter goes missing.
The disappearance shakes both women, the details of the crime being far, far too familiar for comfort. Both in their own minds, the sisters are desperate to uncover the truth before their past crashes into their present, hell-bent on destroying them both
The narration of the dual pov's was absolutely fantastic and this is truly a gripping audiobook and perfect for fans of thrillers
Marlee Bush creates a terrifying wildernss scenario, too far away from civilizantion for comfort, but the dichotomy is, that the twins cannot seek solace help from the local town for fear of the press and prying eyes. A very well thought out situation which set up a strong foundation for an excellent thriller. Brilliant
Thank you to Netgalley, Dreamscape Media, the author Marlee Bush and narrator Imani Jade Powers for this intriguing ALC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own
The disappearance shakes both women, the details of the crime being far, far too familiar for comfort. Both in their own minds, the sisters are desperate to uncover the truth before their past crashes into their present, hell-bent on destroying them both
The narration of the dual pov's was absolutely fantastic and this is truly a gripping audiobook and perfect for fans of thrillers
Marlee Bush creates a terrifying wildernss scenario, too far away from civilizantion for comfort, but the dichotomy is, that the twins cannot seek solace help from the local town for fear of the press and prying eyes. A very well thought out situation which set up a strong foundation for an excellent thriller. Brilliant
Thank you to Netgalley, Dreamscape Media, the author Marlee Bush and narrator Imani Jade Powers for this intriguing ALC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own
rawiecasualreads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
5.0
I found the build up to the tension very well done, kept me wondering what was happening and how everything was falling into place. I truly didn’t see the twist coming but I loved when it was revealed! Very fast reading experience the book pulls you right in
Thank you net galley and Merlee for the ARC in exchange of an honest review
Thank you net galley and Merlee for the ARC in exchange of an honest review
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Murder
holdmethrillme's review against another edition
4.0
What. The. Actual. This book was FULL of surprises and unexpected turns! I felt totally mislead until the very end of the book. I loved the isolated moody woodsy setting and the murdery storyline along with the fascinating characters! I really want to know more about Cassie and Lenore and their history.
I listened to the audiobook and loved listening to the narrator tell this story.
I listened to the audiobook and loved listening to the narrator tell this story.
krystibarrak's review against another edition
4.0
Cassie and Lenora are inseparable, literally. They’ve never been without each other as twin sisters. Now they live in a remote cabin in Tennessee away from prying eyes, crime junkies and nosy neighbors who may be desperate to get a chance to talk to the girls after THAT night so many years ago. Until a teenage girl goes missing and the memories start causing a rift between the sisters. Each suspecting the other of hiding something. Now odd things are happening to them and they HAVE to figure out what happened to that girl, it just might be the only way they survive.
As a debut novel this book is honestly so impressive! It’s so well written and will give you those heart pounding moments all thriller readers love. Told in a dual perspective between the sisters with flashbacks from the past, it will genuinely leave you guessing just who knows what until the very end. With that said, there’s a lot of build up and talk of the past that you don’t get answers to until maybe the last 10% of the book and for me that’s always frustrating. I don’t need the plot twist until that point but you can only refer to something so many times without revealing it to the reader for SO long before it gets frustrating but that could just be a personal preference. I definitely would’ve read this faster if I wasn’t in the middle of a giant reading rut.
As a debut novel this book is honestly so impressive! It’s so well written and will give you those heart pounding moments all thriller readers love. Told in a dual perspective between the sisters with flashbacks from the past, it will genuinely leave you guessing just who knows what until the very end. With that said, there’s a lot of build up and talk of the past that you don’t get answers to until maybe the last 10% of the book and for me that’s always frustrating. I don’t need the plot twist until that point but you can only refer to something so many times without revealing it to the reader for SO long before it gets frustrating but that could just be a personal preference. I definitely would’ve read this faster if I wasn’t in the middle of a giant reading rut.
mandolin_dreams's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
4.5