An Anonymous Girl
An Anonymous Girl
Authors: Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen
To Be Published: January 8, 2019
384 pages
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Read: December 10-24, 2018
Jessica’s Rating: 3 stars
Book Description:
Seeking women ages 18–32 to participate in a study on ethics and morality. Generous compensation. Anonymity guaranteed.
When Jessica Farris signs up for a psychology study conducted by the mysterious Dr. Shields, she thinks all she’ll have to do is answer a few questions, collect her money, and leave. But as the questions grow more and more intense and invasive and the sessions become outings where Jess is told what to wear and how to act, she begins to feel as though Dr. Shields may know what she’s thinking…and what she’s hiding. As Jess’s paranoia grows, it becomes clear that she can no longer trust what in her life is real, and what is one of Dr. Shields’ manipulative experiments. Caught in a web of deceit and jealousy, Jess quickly learns that some obsessions can be deadly.
Jessica’s Review
I absolutely loved Hendricks’ and Pekkanen’s first collaboration together so much that I was anticipating their second. Unlike The Wife Between Us, An Anonymous Girl did not deliver. The premise is intriguing and makes you think, but otherwise the novel is not believable at all. I can’t say much in detail without giving spoilers. And the protagonist’s name is Jessica!
There are two points of view that alternate throughout the novel: Dr. Shields and Jessica’s. Dr. Shields’ POV came off disconnected while Jessica’s POV was intriguing and I found myself rooting for her. Dr. Shields is a therapist and maybe that is why the POV was the way it was, but for me it was to the detriment of the novel.
In the beginning where Jessica starts answering the questions for the study as Subject 52, I found myself thinking about what my answers would be and what I would do. Could this be because I am also Jessica? Well, my personality is not similar to the Jessica of this story. I would not do some of the things ‘Book Jessica’ did.
As the book progresses it becomes a bit of a cat and mouse game between doctor and Subject 52, and it’s not believable at all. I found myself rooting for Jessica and did not know how this story was going to end.
Though not for me, I will read future collaborations between Hendricks and Pekkanen. Definitely give their first The Wife Between Us a read!
Many thanks to St Martin’s Press for sending me an arc copy to read and review!
Pre-order Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK (Available now!)
An American Family by Jackson Baer
Author: Jackson Baer
Published: October 1, 2018
Audiobook
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Listened to: December 5-10, 2018
Jessica’s Rating: 3.5 stars
Book Description:
Isaac Childs has the perfect life—until that life comes crashing down when his wife Ramie vanishes.
Isaac learns that his wife’s disappearance is the ninth in a string of similar cases. In the wake of this news, he struggles to cope, to be a good father to his daughter and college-bound son, and to reclaim something of an ordinary life even as he conceals his troubled past.
After the FBI makes an arrest, and his wife is presumed dead, Isaac begins to move on. Yet will his secrets catch up with him? Has he conquered his vices for good? And what of the FBI’s theory that the case isn’t completely resolved, after all?
Evolved Publishing presents the first book in the “An American Family” series, contemporary suspense thrillers that explore one family’s trials and tragedies.
Jessica’s Review:
An American Family is a character driven novel with a family of imperfect people. Each character has issues, the main focus is Isaac. It was hard to like and feel for him. This family went through something terrible that no one should experience but Isaac’s faults just kept coming.
The novel is far from perfect: the writing comes off as juvenile and could have been written better. For example, in the first chapter there were constant mentions of the crime shows that Isaac and Ramie watch and enjoy. I found myself wondering what I got myself into… and then something unexpected happened: I became invested in the story! I am from Georgia as is Baer, so I think part of what drew me in to the novel was hearing about locations I know: Whitlock in Marietta, The Chicken and the Egg (I have not eaten there yet, but know about it). I kept wondering if ‘The Big Chicken’ was going to make an ‘appearance’ in the novel. (It doesn’t but that would have been awesome!).
I wanted to know how each family member was going to cope and move on from their loss. Many of the twists were predictable, except for that final twist. There is a second book called Life After Death which you will want to start once you finish An American Family. I am listening to it now and should have it done quickly with the review posted soon.
**Special thanks to the author, Jackson Baer for sending me an audio copy to listen to and review via Love Books Group Tours. This was not part of a blog tour.**
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Bad Girls with Perfect Faces
Author: Lynn Weingarten
320 pages
Published: October 31, 2017
Reviewed By: Kim
Kim’s Rating: 4 stars
Book Description:
When I looked up, his smile was wide and real. “Ready?” he said.
I faked a smile back. I had gotten so good at faking things.
I thought: You brought this on yourself, Sasha. You will have to pretend forever now.He squeezed my hand again. He couldn’t begin to imagine what this actually was. He had no idea what I’d done. What any of us had.
When Sasha’s best friend Xavier gets back together with his cheating ex, Ivy, Sasha knows she needs to protect him. So she poses as a guy online to lure Ivy away.
But Sasha’s plan goes sickeningly wrong. And she soon learns to be careful of who you pretend to be because you might be surprised by who you become…
Kim’s Review:
This cover fascinated me! I found the book super cheap at Ollie’s (if y’all have an Ollie’s near you, then go and check their book section on a regular basis. I have gotten so many popular books for cheap!). This is definitely a YA book with a lot of teenage drama and idiot teens who think they know things when they actually don’t. Having said that, I actually liked this book. And that’s a big deal for me, since I hate teenagers!!!!!! 😊
The mystery and thrill were thick enough that I passed over the drama with slight annoyance and just kept reading, cuz I wanted to know what happened! Sasha is a relatable kid who sounds a lot like me as an adult and I appreciated that. Xavier is just downright likable and you hate to see him suffer. Ivy is horrible and I hate her. But there were some crazy twists and turns and I just turned page after page, wondering and worrying and anticipating. And the resolution is worth it! Definitely not a book for younger kids; there are major adult themes and some big language. But I do recommend this book for anyone looking for a YA thriller!
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK