FOUR STARS

After witnessing a tragic accident, Shay Miller meets the Moore sisters. They quickly take Shay under their wing and welcome her into their exclusive group of friends, but as Shay grows closer to them the intentions behind their friendship become unclear. Although the Moore sisters seem to have it all, Shay begins to wonder if their lives are really worth envying.

This is the third book from this duo of authors and was definitely my favourite of the three. The pacing was great and kept me turning the pages, and I appreciated that the plot was not too dark as far as thrillers go. I think it would be a good read if you’re looking for a book that will keep you engaged but won’t be too heavy.

3.4 stars rounded down to 3.*

This is my third Hendricks/Pekkanen collaboration read. I really enjoy their combined writing style and the way they build up a mystery. This one, however, annoyed me. It is the story of Shay, a New Yorker in her early thirties who does not have what she wants in her life. She witnesses a young woman commit suicide by jumping in front of a subway train and suddenly a string of events she cannot explain come together to give her much of what she is lacking: friends, confidence, dates, a (painful, YA-novel style) makeover, an apartment of her own, a new job, access...all at the hands of her new friends, the Moore sisters who she meets at the memorial service for the girl she witnessed dying. As bad as that run-on sentence was., some of the ridiculous coincidences and manipulations of the Moore Sisters were worse.

Not terrible. But not great. I'd recommend it if you're on a beach and like a pager-turner. But it's as predictable as a Lifetime whodunit.

*with thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for this honest review.

Authors Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen are a dynamic duo when it comes to writing dark and twisty psychological thrillers that keep readers on the edge of their seats, and their latest offering, You Are Not Alone, continues the trend. You Are Not Alone is a dark and disturbing read that explores what happens when an emotionally vulnerable young woman finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The story follows Shay Miller, whose life is just overall in a disappointing place for her. She is working a temp job with no prospects of a permanent position on the horizon, she has no real friends to speak of, and she is in love with her roommate Sean, who already has a long-time girlfriend. Shay finds herself mostly isolated and therefore vulnerable. When Shay happens to be in a subway station and witnesses a young woman commit suicide, she becomes obsessed with learning more about the victim. She knows her obsession is unhealthy, but she feels compelled nonetheless to find out what led her to take her own life.

I found myself incredibly sympathetic to Shay and the position she has found herself in. She feels a connection to the suicide victim in part because she can so easily put herself in that woman’s place and can imagine feeling like there’s nothing worth living for. I can understand why she feels it’s so important to find out what exactly drove this woman to do what she did. She’s thinking of herself and what could drive her to that same point.

The story, and Shay’s life, takes a drastically different turn when she decides to attend the memorial service for the suicide victim and meets Cassandra and Jane Moore, who are sisters and who were also both close to the deceased. Shay is fascinated by the ultra-charismatic sisters and her obsession with the victim soon expands to include them as well, especially since they seem very eager to befriend her. Shay is desperate for friends and begins to imagine herself taking the victim’s place in the sisters’ circle of friends. Seems to easy and too good to be true, right?

Good things start happening for Shay as she deepens her connection to the sisters…until suddenly, they don’t. Out of nowhere, Shay finds herself inexplicably caught up in the investigation into the death of the suicide victim as well as another crime. The authors ratchet up the tension and suspense as Shay desperately tries to figure out what is going on and how she’s going to get herself out of the mess she has found herself in. I had a few minor issues with pacing early on in the story, but once I got to this part of the book, I flew through the rest of the pages trying put together the pieces of this wild and crazy puzzle.

You Are Not Alone is a disturbing and complex tale of manipulation, danger, and revenge. If you’re into dark, twisty, and suspenseful reads, this is one that needs to go on your must-read list.

This is the third book I’ve read by what I now consider the “dynamic writing duo” of Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen and I can truly say that they have now become favorite “go-to” authors for me when it comes to the thriller / suspense genre. As is the case with most works in this genre, it’s necessary to go into this one knowing as little as possible, so I’m not going to expand too much on the plot other than to say that the story revolves around Shay Miller, who witnesses a horrific suicide (a young woman named Amanda jumps into the path of an oncoming subway train) and then subsequently finds herself pulled into the dead woman’s orbit through the Moore sisters Jane and Cassandra and the other women from their group, as they mourn the loss of their friend. But there’s more than meets the eye here and as we learn each woman’s backstory, the web that is woven becomes more and more complex.

Just like with their previous works, Hendricks and Pekkanen do a good job creating a slow buildup of suspense while giving us a story that is captivating from beginning to end. Structure-wise, this one fell somewhere in the middle in that it didn’t have the huge shocking twist that we saw in their first book The Wife Between Us, nor did it consist of numerous mini cliffhangers like in their second book The Anonymous Girl. Instead, there were revelations that made their way to the surface gradually as the story progressed, yet without a whole lot of fanfare, akin to a puzzle where each piece fell into place slowly but satisfyingly, one after another.

One of the things I admire most about this writing team is their ability to create an engaging, well-crafted story of psychological suspense that manages to feel original and creatively different from one book to the next, yet still somehow feel as though they’re connected thematically. This was an entertaining read, one that I definitely recommend. I can’t wait to see what Hendricks and Pekkanen have in store for us next!

Received ARC from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley

This story is a fantastic example of how to write a psychological thriller...it's an absolutely delicious thrilling read, exhausting and exhilarating, with twists and turns that blindside, and breaths you can't catch.

The story unfolds with a girl named "Shay". She is secretly in love with her roomate...her job isn't going well...and something she witnesses, sets in motion,a high octane rollercoaster ride she can't outrun.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to NetGalley, St.Martins Press and the incredible writing duo of Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen for the opportunity to read this Advanced Readers Copy of "You Are Not Alone".
The opinions expressed in this review are mine alone.

A woman’s life upends after bearing witness to a shocking suicide in YOU ARE NOT ALONE – the latest psychological suspense from Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkannen (THE WIFE BETWEEN US).

Shay Miller locks eyes with a stranger seconds before she throws herself off a subway platform ahead of a moving train. Amanda Evinger’s suicide affects Shay deeply.

Lonely, single and broke, Shay wonders just how parallel their lives are. Wonders what would drive this woman with dead eyes to jump. Driven by curiosity, Shay tracks down Amanda’s address. And she attends her memorial service. And befriends her friends, the glamorous Moore sisters with their mesmerizing smiles, effortless style, and unexpected kindness.

Shay is drawn to them like a moth to a flame. And despite the lies she’s told, and how eerily her life begins to mimic Amanda’s, she feels like she’s finally beginning to belong. But why do Jane and Cassandra care so much? Why do they bring her into the fold, embracing her like one of their own?

Before too long, Shay uncovers the danger behind the illusion she’s been living, and it may be too late for her, just as it was for Amanda Evinger.

Hendricks and Pekkanen deliver another intricately plotted, female-centric thriller. With twists aplenty and ratcheting tension, the narrative spirals and you can’t seem to look away. Clues are peppered between the lines and in factoids Shay diligently records in her journal. Adding to the story’s tension are short, quickly paced chapters in multiple POVs. Fragment by fragment the puzzle pieces come together to reveal the big twist.

Despite a slowly moving first half, this seasoned duo delivers another dark and twisty thriller sure to satisfy the most avid suspense readers.

I love when these two ladies write together. I have never been disappointed and this book is no exception. It reels you right in and you won’t be able to put it down! I enjoyed all the twists and turns in the story.

Excellent book, very in keeping with these authors’ previous works. I enjoy the back and forth perspectives between the characters, making it difficult to guess ahead of time who is the protagonist and who is the antagonist. This page turner kept me fully engaged—I couldn’t put it down until I finished!

The writing team of Greer Hendricks; Sarah Pekkanen have come out with a very twisty, bend-the-reader's-minds-this-way-and-that, psychological thriller with You Are Not Alone.

The slow build up in the beginning, gave me the opportunity to get to know the main character, Shay, who seems to be somewhat socially awkward and doesn't have any close friends. I liked her immediately and could see how easily she falls into the carefully constructed plot with a group of conniving women.

The book does not contain any cursing! And while there are some suggestions of two women being raped, there aren't any graphic scenes that I really dislike in books.

This was a really great book and I feel it is worth every one of the five stars that I am giving it. !

I really enjoyed this book by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen. I definitely liked the main character a lot, and in psychological suspense novels, that is not very common. I enjoyed the mystery element and when it was revealed what was really going on, I can say I didn't see it coming. These authors are now on my auto-buy list- any time a new book comes out, I will buy it!

*Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for an honest review*

💙BOOK REVIEW💙

You Are Not Alone by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen
On Sale- March 3, 2020
352 pages

-DESCRIPTION-
We meet Shay Miller, a lonely girl, living in New York City, who witnesses a girl commit suicide in subway terminal. Shay decides to attend her memorial where she meets the Moore sisters.

-THOUGHTS-
1. Well this dynamic writing duo has done it again. This was another page turner. How do they even come up with these ideas?! A great thriller. I was all in from page one.
2. Told from various points of view. Which I love. And all the voices where so different and so convincing that depending on who I was reading, my opinions would change. I was routing for one then routing for the other. It's one of my favorite things about their books. They keep me in my toes!
3. Their writing is so effortless. It's an easy read and the characters are all so different that I don't feel overwhelmed. The twists and turns throughout the book...I never see coming.

-RATING-
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 stars
I highly recommend this book!

-SIMILAR RECOMMENDED READS-
An Anonymous Girl
The Wife Between Us
The Silent Patient

Shay witnesses what appears to be a suicide in the subway which turns into a tangled web of deceipt as women who turned out to be faux friends work hard to frame her for a murder. Shay falls for the deceipt at least partially related to a need to belong, make friends and find acceptance. I gave it 3 stars as I did not find it plausible and the end seemed rushed.

In 2018, I read and reviewed An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen, noting “…I may be burned out due to reading too MANY of these plucky-heroine-in-danger stories, but I also was not impressed with the writing. It seemed geared for a relatively low reading level, strong on plot but weak (IMHO) on language, narrative voice, and description. Well, except for the MANY times we learned what the characters were wearing. In detail.”

But for some reason, I thought You Are Not Alone, the latest by the two authors, would be better. It sounded like a terrific premise in the plucky-heroine-in-danger genre, with a book-smart young woman who is somewhat lacking in people smarts trying to unravel the story behind the apparent suicide she witnessed when a young woman is killed right next to her by a passing subway train.

The backstory of protagonist Shay Miller, and why she continuously records data and statistics, is promising. Unfortunately, there is way too much willing suspension of disbelief required, as there are a gazillion implausible coincidences and a whole boatload of really stupid people.

I’m generally fine with alternating points of view, as long as the characters and storylines remain clear. I’m willing to admit the fact that the supporting characters all seemed to blend together might be my fault, not the author’s…but it was disconcerting. Their reasons for wanting revenge needed to be justified and clear, but their motivations were murky and their reasons never measured up to Shay’s storyline. Shay, as noted, has some interesting character traits, and her whole story had a lot of promise, but TBH I really didn’t care what happened to her – or anyone in the book, actually. Rereading my notes from my review of An Anonymous Girl, I realize this book has the EXACT same flaws for me: plot possibilities were there, but the simplistic style and presentation made it hard to get through. I have to repeat my rating: I rarely give only 2 stars, and because this did have some ingenious aspects and I was able to finish it, it’s a 3-star from me.

This duo is a force to be reckoned with in the literary world! They have published three amazing thrillers that continue to surprise me with countless twists and turns. “You Are Not Alone” is no different and I loved the fast pace and short chapters, with various changing points of view. The plot was intriguing from the start and I enjoyed the use of statistics throughout the whole novel. Although I felt something was missing, overall I still really enjoyed this book. It was completely crazy, giving me whiplash in my attempts to follow what was happening and what would happen next. However, “An Anonymous Girl” remains my favorite! Thank you to Netgalley for my free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

The first book I read by this team was their debut, The Wife Between Us, and I loved it. I thought it was a wild ride full of twists and turns and I couldn’t wait to read more by them.

I missed their second book, An Anonymous Girl, but I had no plans to miss this one if I could help it so you can imagine how thrilled I was to check this one out!

The hype for this book is real right now. It’s everywhere and everyone seems to be talking about it so of course there was a part of me that worried about all the hype it as getting, but I also know that this team writes twisty novels so I was hopeful that I would really enjoy it!

Summary
You probably know someone like Shay Miller.
She wants to find love, but it eludes her.
She wants to be fulfilled, but her job is a dead end.
She wants to belong, but her life is so isolated.

You probably don’t know anyone like the Moore sisters.
They have an unbreakable circle of friends.
They live the most glamorous life.
They always get what they desire.

Shay thinks she wants their life.
But what they really want is hers. (summary from Goodreads)

Review
So I am just going to say this right off the bat…..I liked The Wife Between Us better. This wasn’t a bad book or anything, I just simply like their debut better than this one. I can’t really put my finger on why, but I just found that this one felt a little disjoined to me in a way that the first book by this team didn’t.

This is NOT part of a series or anything, so that wasn’t it. But for whatever reason, I just found that this one took me a little bit to get into. There were a lot of characters in the first half of the book which caused me to have to stop and remember who was who and how they fit in the story. The second half of the book read really fast though and I felt that the pace of the novel was better the more it went on but it still just landed as a 3 star book for me. It wasn’t terrible or anything and in fact I think I am in the minority, but I felt like it was good rather than great.

I struggled to connect with Shay in this one. She is the primary narrator though there are other narrators too, but for her being the primary, I had hoped to connect with her more than I did. I am not exactly sure why I couldn’t connect with her, but I just felt that she was one dimensional and some of her lines were just blah.

This book was still a worthwhile read and I hope you decide to read it and see for yourself. It was good but not in the same league as The Wife Between Us in my opinion.

Book Info and Rating
Kindle Edition, 1st edition, 352 pages
Expected publication: March 3rd 2020 by St. Martin’s Press (first published February 25th 2020)
ASIN B07TQH4X2J
Free review copy provided by publisher, St Martin’s Press, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and in no way influenced.
Rating: 3 stars
Genre: thriller

Shay Miller is a 30ish single woman living in NYC. She has been laid off from work and is working at temp jobs. Her roommate, Sean, that she was hoping something romantic might happen with, has found a girlfriend that wants Shay out of the apartment.
She’s on her way to work when she witnesses a woman jump in front of train. Shay picks up a necklace belonging to the woman and puts it in her pocket without thinking. Of course she is understandably traumatized by this horrible event and can’t get the woman out of her mind. She sets about finding out the woman’s name and address so she can put flowers on the stoop of her apartment building as a little remembrance.
While there she sees a notice for a memorial service to be held for Amber (the woman who killed herself). She decides to go and while there she meets the friends of Amber. Two sisters in particular appear to be wonderfully warm and charming women. And it seems they want to be friends with Shay.
Shay cannot believe her luck....these friends are so kind and caring and always there when she needs a helping hand. She’s been so lonely - these new friends are too good to be true....aren’t they?
The authors do a great job of keeping the action and suspense going throughout the book. I enjoyed learning about each character through glimpses into the past and that’s how the plot unfolds for us. I found myself really rooting for Shay at the end - not at all sure how it would all enfold.
Thanks to NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review

I wanted to love this...but I didn't. It took me longer to read than most books do. I just didn't feel that invested in the characters.

It also has some problematic elements as far as mental health issues are concerned. Shay appears to have PTSD and anxiety after a traumatic experience. Slight spoiler here but I feel it's necessary to explain my point. She quits sessions with her regular therapist because it wasn't helping and received one session with someone pretending to be a therapist and all of a sudden she is "cured" with no more anxiety or issues. That's not how mental health works!

I also felt that from the very beginning we know exactly what's going on while Shay does not. There weren't any big surprise moments other than a little one at the very end. It would have read better if we were only seeing from Shay's perspective and learning things as she did.

Okay...that was pretty tense and cryptic. Had no idea where it was going until midway through. The ending felt like I was stuck inside a pressure cooker. Well done authors!!! Third homerun in a row! Definitely recommend to psychological thriller fans

A huge thank you for an ARC on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Definitely worth the read...from the same authors that brought us The Wife Between Us and An Anonymous Girl, they did not disappoint with this new thriller. Such an engaging drama filled thriller... kept me guessing and working to figure things out, up until the very end. There were times I felt it was slow. But otherwise it was a great thriller. It was a most anticipated read for 2020 for many book lists and there's no doubt it will be a favorite among many readers!!

4.5/5 stars! Thank you NetGalley, St Martin's Press and the Authors for this ARC copy.

I have to say I did read reviews on this book before I started it so was initially swayed going into the book. A lot of reviews said it wasn't their favorite by the author duo, but I really enjoyed it so it just goes to show that people have varying opinions and preferences. I do agree with most people about that fact that Shay did act a bit childish and was too gullible, but she was lonely and just wanted to belong so it makes sense that she didn't see all the bad signs from the Moore sisters.

I liked that Shay was book smart or data/number smart but not quite people smart and I found all the little data tidbits in the book quite interesting. There was just enough tension to keep me wanting more and the twists, while some were predictable, were still compelling to the story. All in all the book kept me engaged and I stayed up late into the night to see how it all panned out so that's a win for me.