So who is the one that has the mental problems? That is a question you will ask yourself through out this book. There are a lot of twist and turns in this book. Once I started reading this book I did not want to put it down. Each person has a lot of their own problems going on which mixes with the study Lydia is doing. Is everything as it seems, who do you trust, can you even trust yourself? These question will also be asked while reading this book. If you like psychological thriller books you will really enjoy this book.


*I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.*

What a ride!
Wonderfully creepy, fascinatingly nuanced, and very nerve-wracking - Hendricks and Pekkanen have a winner here! I found I didn’t want to read this right before I went to bed at night for fear it would keep me from sleeping. It really pulled me into Jess’s world. She was relatable and sympathetic, even though her choices weren’t always smart. I really wanted her life to go well and things to improve. She was someone who might be a friend. So I watched in horror as the web closed around her. I enjoyed the intelligent point and counter-point between Jess and Dr. Shields, and tried to guess what would happen next, but rarely succeeded. If you enjoyed Gone Girl, or The Girl on the Train, you will LOVE this!

Hardly a week goes by without someone asking me to recommend a really good psychological thriller. Thanks to this ARC from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley, I have a new candidate: An Anonymous Girl.

This story was so well-paced that it carried me along, again and again past the short spell of reading I'd allotted myself. (Very hard to put down.) Something indefinable in the simple, direct prose created a sense of dread, present from the beginning and steadily building.

You know that response to a spooky movie where you're warning the characters -- aloud -- "No, don't go near the pool. Stay out of the kitchen. Close your damn drapes," etc. That was my experience with Jess, the main character. She's a young, suburban middle-America woman making her way in New York City, but her impulsivity and lack of caution had me shaking my head throughout the book.

The plot was strong, the premise was original, and the dialogue flowed, but I was disappointed that none of the characters was memorable for depth or complexity, particularly Jess's nemesis, Dr. Shields -- who bordered on caricature. Still, none of that occurred while I was reading. This book just swept me through on its current of apprehension, and I went along quite willingly.

An Anonymous Girl was one of those thrillers that was a really fun read. The surprises didn't feel like tricks- instead, I'd be fully immersed in the story when suddenly there would be something I didn't expect. Having been a fan of Sarah Pekkanen's books for years, I'm not surprised that these books include great characters and good writing, and I've been impressed with the way these cowritten books are turning out! The Wife Between Us was a good first collaboration, but I may have actually liked An Anonymous Girl a little more.

This was a great thriller that I got more and more interested in as it went along. I really wanted to know what was happening. It is about a woman who inserts herself into a study about morals. She ends up befriending the psychologist that is doing the study and their lives intersect. I would recommend this to people who enjoy the thriller genre and have read many of the books that have come out in the last year. I think they will enjoy this one!

found that the story developed at a slower pace that i’m used to, with a slight inability to set up a tension rising storyline in the second half. I wouldn’t say that I found this book boring because I didn’t, it just wasn’t as fast pace as I am usually used to, with a (personally) rather anti – climatic ending. I would possibly recommend this book for someone who enjoys a slow – burning thriller, but not for those who enjoy the exciting unpredictable read. But like I’ve already said, I really enjoyed the first half of the book.

The characters were developed really well, I love when books give characters a proper back-story, I think it helps to personify them. Jessica seems like a naïve woman, who obviously loves her family a lot. She feels relieved to be able to reveal her secrets to a complete strange, secrets that she wants to keep hidden from those she loves. Dr. Stein reminds me of a character of Desperate Housewives, although she fits the bill perfectly well, I can just imagine her living on Wisteria Lane.

The premise of this book intrigued me from the very first page...a young woman becomes part of a study on morality, but we found out early on that there is much more to the study that meets the eye. I loved that the story was told from the points of view of both the young woman and the psychiatrist who is running the study. A tangled web of lies and deceit, this book kept me turning pages long into the night.....

I read a good amount of thrillers and An Anonymous Girl was one of the best I read this year. A 28 year old girl in New York City signs up for a study on morality and ethics with a psychologist, when lines become blurred and their relationship becomes closer. This is truly a page turner and will keep you guessing.

Greed, obsession, guilt, and revenge combine with unreliable narrators and a thoroughly sinister vibe for another unputdownable read from this duo. While the storyline here does go a bit over the top on the believability scale, it still kept me turning pages to see what would happen next between Dr. Shields and Jessica - what else this woman could convince Jessica to do in the name of research as she also compiled a detailed summary of all of Jessica's secrets. But the good doctor isn't the only one out to discover secrets, and all three of the main players in this game have quite the list of things to hide between them. The twists in this one are more subtle than the typical thriller, sneaking up on you even when you think you see it coming. The thing about these characters is, other than those on the periphery, they are not likable, and the more I discovered about them, the less I liked them. In most cases, there needs to be a redeemable character, someone to root for in a story like this one. But it was different with these characters and this story. As they become more and more enmeshed in each other's lives, I couldn't stop reading. I had to see who would come out ahead in the tangled mess they managed to create. Even when I reached the conclusion and thought I knew how it would go, I was still second guessing myself about how I wanted it to play out - and I'm still thinking about that final twist. So, while I normally prefer a faster pace, this one did hold my interest from start to finish. All in all, another page turning domestic suspense from these authors.

Received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was unable to get into this book and I had the same problem with their previous book. I felt that the writing was contrived, the flow was terrible. I was confused from page one. There has been a lot of hype on this book but I, for one, so not see why! I hope others enjoy it though.

Wow - this dynamic duo has done it again! An original storyline follows Jessica, a traveling make-up artist, who happens to oversee a text message come in for a client, while on the job; an invitation to take part in a study of morality. With the client unable to make the appointment, Jessica decides she will respond in her place - it can't be too hard and will earn her a lot of extra, much needed cash. This quick moving story is a great psychological suspense novel you don't want to miss. While Jessica responds to the questions within the study, the reader may find themselves answering the questions and becoming lost in what's right and wrong given the circumstances, or maybe some incidents' deserve the ultimate revenge, or is it justice? When the questions become more than questions and the doctor asks for a more intimate exploration of answers to bring the study to another level of understanding, Jessica may find herself getting in way too deep, but is the sacrifice worth the end result? Readers won't be able to put this new novel of suspense down - keeps you hooked until the very last words on the page!

Did you ever have a book you saved because you knew it would be good, and even though you got a copy really, really early? I didn’t want An Anonymous Girl to be over long before I ever started reading it. The year-long wait until another book from this dynamite duo feels longer than a year! That’s a great thing in this case, these two authors are perfection together.

The Wife Between Us by these Hendricks and Pekkanen is my favorite thriller of 2018, and An Anonymous Girl is already vying for top position for 2019! Sarah Pekkanen and Greer Hendricks have topped themselves with this smashing effort. Wow! It's written how all thrillers should be, with page-turning, effortless writing, and characters that keep you on your toes...a villain like no other. A fallible but relatable victim. This book is perfection. Gosh!

A few details about the story just to pique your interest...

Jessica Farris is a make-up artist living paycheck to paycheck in NYC, and money is an issue for her like it is for many people. She finds herself participating in a paid psychological study on ethics...But from the start, something doesn’t feel right with it...But then again, Jess needs the money.

The study keeps going, becoming more invasive, and eventually Jess begins interacting directly with the psychiatrist in charge of the study, Dr. Shields. Jess develops a strong amount of paranoia early on, which never wanes though she doubts herself, again, because money is an issue.

An Anonymous Girl is a story of obsession, right versus wrong, and betrayal. There are creepy characters that will make your skin crawl, a character you may champion (I know I did), and a few characters in the middle that you just can’t figure out.

The chapters are the perfect length, as I mentioned above, the writing flows perfectly in a race to the finish of the book, and the tension builds at a nice pace. I was hooked very early, and I never lost my connection to this book. The storyline is massively original, full of twists and turns, and I will never forget this dark tale of suspense, deviousness, and obsession.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own.

I received a free copy of An Anonymous Girl from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. An Anonymous Girl is about Jess, a makeup artist who works as a beauty consultant for Beauty Buzz. Jess signs up to participate in a research study on ethics and morality in hopes of making a quick buck that turns into much more that she anticipated. She is soon being paid more than she could possibly imagine, but some of the things she is being asked to do make her extremely uncomfortable.

It is difficult to describe what happens without giving away any spoilers, but it definitely was not what I was expecting. I found the first half of the book to be rather slow, but it picked up considerably at the midway point. By the end, I did not want to put it down. If you like twisty psychological thrillers then be sure to add Anonymous Girl to your list!

What a rollercoaster ride! I admit I have not read Hendricks & Pekkanen's A Wife Between Us, and now I feel like I have been living under a rock after finishing An Anonymous Girl. I will also never sign up for a study in exchange for money.

Protagonist Jessica sneaks into a study on morality and ethics that is being conducted by a well respected and published university professor. The study pays well, and Jessica is selected for additional tasks. However, these tasks take a dark and manipulative turn and the reader is quickly thrust into a dark and devious place where manipulative lies, love and sex push the characters to their limits.

The characters took turns with appalling actions and trying to stay ahead of each other, and it really kept me guessing. The protagonist is well written and developed so I did empathize with her at times, particularly with the relationship with her family. The relationships between the main three characters were exceptionally well plotted and drawn out - there were times when even I was hoping to receive Dr. Shields' approval.

If you love thrillers, this book is a must. Go and get it and start it on a Friday night because you won't be able to put it down. Or start it on a Monday and then call in sick to work (but that would be lying, wouldn't it?).

Thank you so much to St Martins Press and Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for review.

Another thriller for me this month! Not sure if I'm on a roll but here we are. I did quite enjoy this one. It was different than others I've read in the genre. I literally spent the whole book going "ok, who is telling the truth and who is actually batshit crazy?"
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Intrigued? This one publishes early next month! I'd recommend it to fans of Gone Girl, Girl on a Train, The Woman in the Window, and Watching You.
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Here's the official synopsis:
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Seeking women ages 18–32 to participate in a study on ethics and morality. Generous compensation. Anonymity guaranteed.
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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
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Thank you to #netgalley and #stmartinspress for this advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanan, authors of the best-selling hit book "The Wife Between Us," are back and the hype their book is receiving is well deserved!

In a world where morality is an ever changing gauge, a fluid point on which no two people agree, making ones way through relationships - familial, friendship, romantic liaisons - can be tricky at best. So, when Jessica, a make up consultant in need of money, overhears a client talking about a morality study at the local university that pays a handsome fee in return, she maneuvers her way into the study, a move that will alter her life forever.

This is a smart, expertly written psychological thriller that weaves a web of deceit so intricate that you will caught into it before you realize the first strand has been laid down for you. The characters are deftly written, I disliked them and loved them at varying times and all at once - is that is even possible - until the very last line of the book.

While I wasn't a fan of The Wife Between Us, I found An Anonymous Girl to be extremely entertaining, very thrilling, a marvelous cat and mouse game and the ending was sheer perfection. The only reason I didn't give it a full five stars is because there were scenarios that were just too over the top that they were unbelievable. That doesn't always bother me, after all this is fiction, but it didn't always work in this work. The book was, however, an excellent read and I highly recommend it!

Thank you to #Netgalley, the authors and #StMartinsPress for my advanced copy.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press, and Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekhanen for the opportunity to read and review their latest thriller - loved it! I also liked their first book, The Wife Between Us. This one also definitely deserves all the hype it is getting - don't miss it!

Jessica is just scraping by working as a make-up artist and trying to help her parents with the expenses of raising Jessica's sister who is disabled. She sneaks into an ethics and morality study, hoping to make a few extra dollars. The questions grab Jessica from the beginning and her answers grab the attention of the psychologist running the study, Dr Shields. Soon Dr Shields offers more money for more testing and Jessica finds herself questioning who she can trust. The story is told in alternating chapters between Jessica and Dr Shields, allowing us a glimpse into both sides of the story.

Enough said - this is a great ride and will keep you glued to the pages. 5 stars - highly recommended!

“Seeking women ages 18–32 to participate in a study on ethics and morality. Generous compensation. Anonymity guaranteed.” This book definitely lived up to the hype! So many unexpected twists and turns in this intriguing psychological thriller. The authors do an amazing job portraying creepy and realistic obsession while consistently building suspense. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced digital copy of this novel. 4.5 stars. Review posted on GoodReads and Instagram @readingnookreviews

There’s always a concern that authors of an outstanding first novel can’t create another one equally as good. I am glad to say they succeeded in creating a second compelling, twisty read, comparable to the first. If you like taut psychological thrillers, this should appeal to you.

In the previous novel (The Wife Between Us), there were a lot of places where I needed to go back and re-read a section because I’d made false assumptions about what was going on. Here, in An Anonymous Girl, the plot follows a more traditional path forward, but it is no less suspenseful or captivating. The story is told in alternating voices which seems to be the norm for current psychological thrillers. It works well to drive the story forward and maintaining the tension throughout. I must say that I didn’t find much to like about any of the characters, however, and wasn’t sure who I was cheering for at times, but the end was satisfying if not exactly to my liking.

I think the collaboration between these authors promises us a future of good storytelling and I look forward to their next effort.

Thanks to NetGallery, St. Martin’s Press and the authors, Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

Having read The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen, I looked forward to reading An Anonymous Girl. While I liked their first book better, An Anonymous Girl does not disappoint. Jessica is a make-up artist struggling to make ends meet and help her parents financially take care of her younger sister. She finds an opportunity to participate in a research study about lying. What happens next is mind-blowing. So many twists and turns involving two therapists.. Which therapist is telling the truth? You just have to read this one for yourself to discover the answers. I received an ARC from NetGalley and St. Martin’s for an honest review.