When She Was Me is a bone-chilling rollercoaster ride of a thriller with lashings of tension, flashbacks and tongue-gnawing suspense. Super impressive, especially for a debut!

Twin sisters Cassie and Lenora have always had each other's backs. After a traumatic event, they went to live in Cabin Two in a woodsy campground. One creates true crime YouTube videos, the other writes. But their lives are far from ordinary and their quirks are unsettling. They have suffered from childhood trauma and have great insight into the macabre. When a neighbour dies and a camper goes missing, their world grows even darker and suspicious. The past is dug up and the present is riddled with fear and paranoia.

If you like the feeling of being chased in the woods at night, this is your wheelhouse. It is darkly disturbing in the best way. My mind was so involved and riveted I lost all track of time. I live in the woods and while reading this my imagination went wild.

My sincere thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this wonderfully engrossing novel.

✨Spoiler Free Review✨

Title- When she was me by @marleebushwriter
Rating-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is Marlee debut novel and was impressed with her writing. This was a fast read, as I read it in one sitting.

Twin sisters Cassie and Lenora, hiding from a tragic past, find refuge as permanent residents of a secluded campground. When the campground changes ownership after the previous owner’s sudden death, the sisters face new challenges as visitors return, including a family with a teenage daughter who goes missing and is later found dead in the woods. As memories resurface, Lenora struggles to maintain her grip on reality while Cassie fights to protect them both at any cost.

I had no idea how this book was going to end honestly or what was going to be revealed, the reveal at the end was a nice plot twist.

• 🌟 If you’re looking for your next authentic thrill fix and a fast read: 5 stars – buy this now and put it on your trophy shelf!
• 💔 If you’re troubled by themes of death, family trauma, and abuse: You might want to pass on this one.
• 🧠 If you love deep dives into complex relationships and the human psyche: This book is calling your name.
• 🔄 If you enjoy dual perspectives and layered storytelling: Add this to your must-read list.
• 🕒 If you’re short on time but want an emotionally rich and impactful read: Perfect choice!
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3.5 stars.
A great debut novel that read really quickly. Marlee Bush should be very proud of herself! I thought this went on a bit too long, it could have been about 50 pages shorter for my liking but I still enjoyed it.

I was shocked to find out this was a debut. The writing was that of a well-seasoned author, and I was beyond impressed by it. The story is told in dual P.O.V's between twin sisters, Cassie and Lenora, both with an unbreakable bond and a strong love for one another. Now both are now questioning what the other is really capable of. This setting is atmospheric, you feel like you are in the Pacific North West woods, where cabins are nestled in between thick tree trunks. Staying in those other cabins are suspicious neighbors. read about how did they get where they are and what transpired beforehand to make them want to live in the woods. It’s a mysterious past timeline containing dangerous behavior.

This one is a slow burn, but I did like the way that the author was building the suspense, but for those who are not fans of a slow burn, the twisty ending will make it worth it. I loved this one and cannot wait to see what this author comes up with next.

Thank you NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press and Marlee Bush for the privilege of being able to read an ARC.

It was good, but honestly just way too slow of a pace. The ending was good, though I guessed the twist.