emilyctrigg's review
1.0
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an advanced audio copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.
Genuinely, I don't have much to say about this title. It was super predictable-- I predicted all of the major twists except for the one on the very last page. I think the author really thinks they did something here, but it was nothing new or special. Besides the fact that it kept mentioning the COVID pandemic being "in the past" when it most definitely isn't, it was so incredibly disrespectful regarding mental illness. The way our main characters' mental health was portrayed was so out of pocket, I found myself getting angry listening to the book and hoping that it was almost over so I could just move on to something else.
I would not recommend this title because of how mental illness was portrayed. If you want to read a book that handles mental illness much better, I would recommend Vanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver.
Genuinely, I don't have much to say about this title. It was super predictable-- I predicted all of the major twists except for the one on the very last page. I think the author really thinks they did something here, but it was nothing new or special. Besides the fact that it kept mentioning the COVID pandemic being "in the past" when it most definitely isn't, it was so incredibly disrespectful regarding mental illness. The way our main characters' mental health was portrayed was so out of pocket, I found myself getting angry listening to the book and hoping that it was almost over so I could just move on to something else.
I would not recommend this title because of how mental illness was portrayed. If you want to read a book that handles mental illness much better, I would recommend Vanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver.
vickimarie2002's review
4.0
I was really excited to read this book. It seemed so interesting, and it was. It was short but also, because of that, I felt it was a bit rushed. Alexa seems very naive, and I wanted to root for her but also, I was very annoyed with her as well. Her twin sister Beth seemed kind of evil and malicious but she also cares about Alexa so much and so I see why she is the way she is. They are opposites but also both very irritating as characters. But then again, I was also rooting for them at different times. I felt like their dad should have been more involved in all that was going on but then it all kind of makes sense in the end. I kind of figured the "twist" ahead of time, but there were several other events that I didn't figure out until the end. This book deals largely with mental health and I was attracted to that in this book. Psychological issues are very interesting to me.
mamasin's review
4.0
This was an interesting read with the twin sisters, Alexa and Beth. As the book unfolds we learn the sordid life of the two sisters. Their mother is dead and their father tries as best he can to provide stability for Alexa. Beth and he are not close. Alexa gets a job away from home, an apartment and a boyfriend. Both the girls have had mental health issues. Once the groundwork is laid this book takes off in a wide range of paths and each page contains more of the unraveling and clues to the past.
filemanager's review
5.0
4.5 stars
I absolutely devoured this book. I am always intrigued by stories with twins, and also psychiatry - so put those two together and that's the making of a 5-star book if you ask me!
The biggest issue I had with this book was that I predicted the "big twist" during the very first chapter. (And Chapter 1 should probably have been a Prologue.) I'm not sure if it was the way things were worded, but I just knew, and assuming what I did, I thought it was really obvious what was going on right up until it was revealed at 67%. I really only kept reading to see if I was right (I was), but there were some other things that surprised me that I didn't see coming, which was great.
I think some parts of the plot could have been fleshed out a little more, but I was definitely intrigued by this book and could not put it down!
Random sidenote: I did NOT like the part about the cat!
I absolutely devoured this book. I am always intrigued by stories with twins, and also psychiatry - so put those two together and that's the making of a 5-star book if you ask me!
The biggest issue I had with this book was that I predicted the "big twist" during the very first chapter. (And Chapter 1 should probably have been a Prologue.) I'm not sure if it was the way things were worded, but I just knew, and assuming what I did, I thought it was really obvious what was going on right up until it was revealed at 67%. I really only kept reading to see if I was right (I was), but there were some other things that surprised me that I didn't see coming, which was great.
I think some parts of the plot could have been fleshed out a little more, but I was definitely intrigued by this book and could not put it down!
Random sidenote: I did NOT like the part about the cat!
theseasonedreader's review
3.0
I was so psyched for this one and I was all in on the storyline of Alexa flying the coop from her overprotective father and having her estranged twin sister, Beth (who happened to spend some time in a psychiatric hospital), show up on her NYC doorstep . Has all the makings of a good story…and it was, sort of.
I loved the first half, getting to know Alexa, watching her find her place in her new city, meeting new people, enjoying her new social media related job. But then the twists start coming. I guessed the main one fairly early on so I wasn’t surprised but the ending seemed to err on the side of unbelievability for me, or maybe that particular character wasn’t developed enough for me to really feel it, if you know what I mean.
Overall, this was a short, fast read that I didn’t want to put down so I would still recommend this book to people who love thrillers!
I’d like to thank @greenleafbookgr and @jcbidonde for letting me read this one!
I loved the first half, getting to know Alexa, watching her find her place in her new city, meeting new people, enjoying her new social media related job. But then the twists start coming. I guessed the main one fairly early on so I wasn’t surprised but the ending seemed to err on the side of unbelievability for me, or maybe that particular character wasn’t developed enough for me to really feel it, if you know what I mean.
Overall, this was a short, fast read that I didn’t want to put down so I would still recommend this book to people who love thrillers!
I’d like to thank @greenleafbookgr and @jcbidonde for letting me read this one!
openmypages's review
3.0
Narrator rating: 3.5 stars
Overall rating: 3.5 stars
Oh boy was this one bananas… it’s a thriller full of uncertainty, paranoia and intensity. this is the story of two sisters, twins… who have had quite a traumatic childhood. They are adults now and trying to make it on their own. I think it’s better not to know details going in… but suffice it to say, you will have a few theories about what is going on… and you will probably be wrong.
Listening to it on audio it was important to try and listen to each chapter completely before stopping, otherwise it was hard to keep straight which sister was talking. They both have similar personalities so it is quite challenging to keep them apart when you were first getting to know them. About halfway you were starting to be suspicious but you’re not sure of him until that big reveal. When the twist happens, it is both surprising and not… But there is quite a bit of book to go after that happens. I do like the way things wrapped up nicely in the end.
Thanks to Netgalley for access to an advanced copy. All opinions above are my own.
Overall rating: 3.5 stars
Oh boy was this one bananas… it’s a thriller full of uncertainty, paranoia and intensity. this is the story of two sisters, twins… who have had quite a traumatic childhood. They are adults now and trying to make it on their own. I think it’s better not to know details going in… but suffice it to say, you will have a few theories about what is going on… and you will probably be wrong.
Listening to it on audio it was important to try and listen to each chapter completely before stopping, otherwise it was hard to keep straight which sister was talking. They both have similar personalities so it is quite challenging to keep them apart when you were first getting to know them. About halfway you were starting to be suspicious but you’re not sure of him until that big reveal. When the twist happens, it is both surprising and not… But there is quite a bit of book to go after that happens. I do like the way things wrapped up nicely in the end.
Thanks to Netgalley for access to an advanced copy. All opinions above are my own.
dogearedlife's review
2.0
Thank you to Greenleaf and Bookishfirst for this advanced readers copy.
After a traumatic childhood, Alexa Martin is ready for a fresh start in New York City all on her own. That is until her unhinged twin sister Beth shows up needing a place to stay. And when Alexa’s boyfriend Curt is murdered-seemingly by Beth- will Alexa be able to handle it? Or will she discover more about herself than she thought possible?
Guys, this book was…woof. You could definitely tell it was written by a first time author. This thriller was choppy and left a lot to be desired.
The narrative flip flops between Alexa and Beth and honestly, neither character was interesting or likable. The plot was pretty slow, with Curt’s murder not even happening until almost the end of the book, even though Alexa is being interrogated for it in the first chapter.
The dialogue felt very immature and dated, with every one of these “Gen Z” characters using “duh” A MILLION TIMES. There was no chemistry between Alexa and Curt and their relationship felt like a sickly high school flash in the pan.
There are a few murders in this book and each of them are glazed over with minimal detail. They felt very abrupt and conjured zero emotion.
There were multiple mentions of the pandemic, especially when a character was using hand sanitizer or washing their hands, and it felt like they were stuck in there after the book was completed. I personally am not a fan of Covid being mentioned in books unless it’s part of the plot.
Last, but not least, there was a mildly racist scene in a nail salon which was entirely unnecessary.
I don’t think I need to say it, but I would not recommend this book.
After a traumatic childhood, Alexa Martin is ready for a fresh start in New York City all on her own. That is until her unhinged twin sister Beth shows up needing a place to stay. And when Alexa’s boyfriend Curt is murdered-seemingly by Beth- will Alexa be able to handle it? Or will she discover more about herself than she thought possible?
Guys, this book was…woof. You could definitely tell it was written by a first time author. This thriller was choppy and left a lot to be desired.
The narrative flip flops between Alexa and Beth and honestly, neither character was interesting or likable. The plot was pretty slow, with Curt’s murder not even happening until almost the end of the book, even though Alexa is being interrogated for it in the first chapter.
The dialogue felt very immature and dated, with every one of these “Gen Z” characters using “duh” A MILLION TIMES. There was no chemistry between Alexa and Curt and their relationship felt like a sickly high school flash in the pan.
There are a few murders in this book and each of them are glazed over with minimal detail. They felt very abrupt and conjured zero emotion.
There were multiple mentions of the pandemic, especially when a character was using hand sanitizer or washing their hands, and it felt like they were stuck in there after the book was completed. I personally am not a fan of Covid being mentioned in books unless it’s part of the plot.
Last, but not least, there was a mildly racist scene in a nail salon which was entirely unnecessary.
I don’t think I need to say it, but I would not recommend this book.
amberjackonski's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Suicide, and Mental illness
meganreadsandwrites's review
4.0
THANK YOU BOOKISHFIRST FOR THE ARC
This book was about twin sisters, Alexa and Beth. Alexa's boyfriend has been murdered and her twin sister, Beth is to blame. The cops do not believe Alexa when she explains it is her sister. Beth is labeled as the "bad seed" twin right away.
Both sisters went thru a horrific incident, mentioned as the "incident" and lost their mother at a young age. There seems to be something amiss with Beth as she is under the care of a psychiatrist (Alexa goes to the same psychiatrist). Alexa has been asked to not have contact with her by their father.
There are lots of questions and very little answers about why Alexa and Beth were both in the same psychiatrist care facility.
Alexa gets her first job in New York City. There, Beth finds Alexa just as it seems as Alexa's luck is trying around for the best. Beth convinces Alexa to allow her to move into Alexa's apartment.
Please do not read the description on the back cover - IT SPOILS THE BOOK. Just hop into the book. It is very good and there is a great twist.
This book was about twin sisters, Alexa and Beth. Alexa's boyfriend has been murdered and her twin sister, Beth is to blame. The cops do not believe Alexa when she explains it is her sister. Beth is labeled as the "bad seed" twin right away.
Both sisters went thru a horrific incident, mentioned as the "incident" and lost their mother at a young age. There seems to be something amiss with Beth as she is under the care of a psychiatrist (Alexa goes to the same psychiatrist). Alexa has been asked to not have contact with her by their father.
There are lots of questions and very little answers about why Alexa and Beth were both in the same psychiatrist care facility.
Alexa gets her first job in New York City. There, Beth finds Alexa just as it seems as Alexa's luck is trying around for the best. Beth convinces Alexa to allow her to move into Alexa's apartment.
Please do not read the description on the back cover - IT SPOILS THE BOOK. Just hop into the book. It is very good and there is a great twist.
aivhe's review
2.0
Thai movie Alone meets Fight Club. I wish I had not seen these movies and watched true crime documentaries nor read too many psychological thrillers. I wish there were other ways to hide mysteries and tell stories.
Thank you, NetGalley, for the audible.
Thank you, NetGalley, for the audible.