3.5/ 5 stars

You Are Not Alone is my third book by this duo. I have enjoyed their previous suspense/thrillers. So I was excited to read this new book.

This book is divided into three parts and has quite a few 3rd person narrators and one 1st person narrator. However the main narrators are Shay (31 years old - 1st person POV) and the Moore sisters (Cassandra (32) and Jane (30) - 3rd person POVs).

The book takes place in New York City. Shay is obsessed with statistics. She is a market researcher and she loves to analyze data. Every chapter that she narrates starts with statistics. I loved this aspect of the book.

Chapter one ends with a shocking development. What transpired is the focal point for much of this book.

This book had some things that I liked more than others. For much of this book I wanted to know who the Moore sisters really were. They were involved with some type of group. And I was desperate to know more about this part of their lives.

The first half of the book was interesting enough. However there were times when I just didn't feel liking picking it up (this is usually how I gauge whether I really like a book or not). These authors are known for big reveals. So I was sort of expecting something major to happen at the end of part one.

I found the second half of the book was much stronger. And I was very curious to see how the story would end.

Overall, there were definitely some interesting developments. And I was a lot more invested in the second half of the book. It was a suspenseful read. And I did enjoy the second half. But maybe I was expecting a bit more.

While this is not a favorite book by the authors it's definitely good read nonetheless. It starts off pretty freaking intense as a woman leaps to her death in front of a NYC subway train. Her death is witnesses by Shay who is not having the best luck lately. Shay is a bit obsessed with statistics a character trait that makes her quite interesting. There are static stats at the beginning of each chapter are pretty interesting and sorta breadcrumbs within the story.

The story slows down quite a bit as the narration goes back and forth between multiple characters, Shay, Amanda, Cassandra and Jane in both present and past time tables. This one wasn't a non stop page turner for me I was able to put this one down between chapters but once the pace of the story picked back up again it was hard to put down until all the pieces of this twisted tale made sense.

Thank you to NetGalley and St.Martins Press for my ARC of You Are Not Alone in exchange for an honest review.

Well, this was messed up.

Shay is a thirty something year old woman whose life is kind of in shambles. She's jobless, living with her crush and his girlfriend, and she doesn't have social life. One day on her way to an interview, Shay witnesses a woman jump in front of a moving subway. Witnessing that one horrific moment then thrusts her into the dangerous path of the Moore sisters. From there, Shay must contend with the devious sisters and their band of friends in an effort to discover the truth.

I'm torn on how I feel about You Are Not Alone. On one hand, the plot is so interesting. I could hardly put the book down because I wanted to know what was going to happen. The synopsis I gave above is pretty vague, but only because telling more would really spoil the plot. Everything hinges on certain things being kept secret until about halfway through.

Pekkanen and Hendricks managed to keep me wanting to read while still keeping me in the dark for most of the book. I was pretty surprised by that because nothing really happens until the 50-60 percent mark. Usually with thrillers I just get so bored that I don't really care anymore, but not with this one. I believe that everything in this book is necessary for the development of the plot, even if you don't understand why until the end. I thought it was really cool that small details I thought was insignificant turned out to be more than meets the eye.

I can appreciate how well done the novel is; as far as thrillers go, this was solidly written. Unfortunately, I just did not feel anything for the novel as a whole. I couldn't connect to any of the characters, which is essential for me to like a book. Shay makes too many dumb decisions and there were too many side characters for me to keep track of or care about. So while I appreciate how well done this thriller is, I just couldn't connect to it sadly.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for giving me an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest reveiw.

This was my third read by this amazing writing duo, and I have to admit, this story did not go in the direction I thought it was going to.

The character of Shay fascinated me. She's obsessed with data and facts and statistics. The little tidbits she shares with the readers along the way had me smiling many times, saying, "I did not know that, that's so interesting!". She's down on her luck, trying to find a full time job and turn her life around. One random day when she's standing in the subway, she witnesses a woman jump to her death. While this is horrific, Shay finds herself obsessed finding out everything she can about this woman, and this in turn introduces her to the Moore sisters.

What ensues is a twisted, turning suspense that kept me guessing. Some things I guessed, some things were a surprise. Sarah and Greer did a good job of keeping me glued to the pages.

I admit I felt bogged down by all the characters that are introduced once Shay meets the sisters. I felt like I had to take notes to keep track of the who/what/where of things, which was a little distracting. And as I was reading, I was not on board at all with what it becomes apparent these sisters have in store for Shay, playing off her loneliness and desire for friends.

This one seemed to wrap up a little too quickly, with some loose ends hanging out there. As usual, the writing was seamless, but I ended the book not feeling satisfied, or as satisfied as I did with their previous two books. Perhaps it just wasn't the right time for me to read this, I'm not sure. I'm sure it's going to be a huge success, as their first two books were, and I will definitely be looking forward to whatever Sarah and Greer come up with next.

Applause, Bravo to Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen on their third novel "You Are Not Alone."
I was super excited to have the opportunity to read the authors latest effort. A big Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the advanced digital copy. I have read the authors two previous novels "The Wife Between Us" and "An Anonymous Girl" and totally loved each book. Once again the authors third psychological thriller was no exception. You Are Not Alone is captivating, completely enthralling, chilling, edge of your seat, unputdownable read. The storyline is utterly compelling and engrossing told from multiple points of view toggling between what happened in the past and what is taking place in the present. You Are Not Alone is a fast-paced, suspenseful mystery filled with twist and turns that kept me guessing throughout the story all the way up until the very end. It is one of the most highly anticipated books of the year. A book that I highly recommend you add to your 2020 reading list. Don’t miss out on this one!
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"Some people contend there are two primal fears. The first and most basic is the end of our existence. The second is isolation; we all have a deep need to belong to something greater than ourselves." - Data Book, page 68

Book Synopsis: Shay Miller is a young women trying to make it in the big city, NYC. She is a smart Marketing Researcher, attractive, athletic, but in between jobs, doing tempt work, in love with her best friend who happens to be her roommate, who is currently involved with someone else. Shay also feels a bit isolated and lonely. After she witness a woman’s horrifying suicide she becomes wholly obsessed with her need to know more about the woman and what drove her to end her life. But soon Shay becomes involved in a twisted plot of something much darker. Now she wishes she never would have got involved.

This is a book full of mean girls and I suspected early on that not much good could come out of being swept up in their orbit. Devious and twisted souls serving as judge and jury in making trouble and punishing others, including some they never even met.

The duo of Hendricks and Pekkanen has done it again! They have created a psychological thriller that is chilling and an absolute mind game of twists, in the plot and in the characters. Shay Miller is the main character, a lonely young woman who lives by statistics and math and has yet to find a job or a male friend that she likes. When she is the witness to Amanda jumping onto the subway track and getting killed, Shay suffers from PTSD and can barely leave her apartment, much less get near a subway track. Two sisters, Cassandra and Jane Moore, recognize that Shay has some kind of connection to Amanda and at first are obsessed with discovering this connection. This exploration quickly turns to something else, something almost evil and certainly vindictive and unexpected. These sisters seem to want to include Shay in their exclusive group and Shay’s neediness leads her into their web of deceit. This is where the book’s plot got very complicated and even more enjoyable for me. The novel was fast-paced, with short chapters and a lot of action and twists. There is a big twisted surprise at the end, but since I have read the authors’ other books, I was prepared for it, but I was not able to guess what it would be. I loved how the authors kept me guessing what the Moore sisters were up to and what Shay’s final destiny would be. I enjoyed every interaction between these very complex and multi-layered characters and applaud the authors for their ability to create such a mesmerizing tale. Fans of psychological and domestic thrillers will enjoy this book and want more from these authors. Absolutely, I highly recommend this book!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

The book You Are Not Alone tells the story of Shay, a woman who witnesses a tragedy on the subway. This tragedy makes her much more aware of the loneliness present in her own life until she meets two sisters who seemingly care about her. The two sisters, though, may have ulterior motives in their attempts to support Shay. I thought the book improved throughout the second half of it and became more interesting. I also appreciate that these books involve strong female characters who have conflicts other than about men, which can often be the case in these types of books. However, I did not like how suicide was depicted in this book.

I was prepared to write how disappointed I was with this novel, especially since I was extremely impressed with the authors’ previous book, “An Anonymous Girl.” The Big Reveal blindsided me and all the pieces that I thought didn’t make sense fell neatly into place.

“You Are Not Alone” is a suspense/thriller novel, told in first person by the heroine Shay, who shares the storytelling duties with a few of the other main characters. The tale begins innocently enough, and early on I could feel the danger that was creeping up on Shay. She is not ordinary and has a few character quirks that are endearing and understandable, traits that cause a reader to identify with her and easily pull one deeper into the story.

The story is told differently than others, with the pertinent facts slowly revealed through flashback chapters. Shay’s character, while mostly revealed in the text, is also spotlighted in her chapters by allowing readers a glimpse into her Data Book. Crammed with facts that she considers important, this “fact diary” shares the inner workings of Shay’s statistically-oriented brain.

I love books where the authors drop clues that could be deciphered if one pays careful attention. Once in a while I catch those clues and am alongside the protagonist at the conclusion of the story. That did not happen with “You Are Not Alone.” While I recalled the events that tied everything together, the authors were clever enough to drop these clues in plain sight while somehow blocking them from my vision. Ms. Hendricks and Ms. Pekkanen are to be applauded for exceeding their last effort. Five stars.

My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance electronic copy of this book.

I enjoyed reading this book. It was a slower read than I'm used to, but the wait was worth it. Shay is a girl that wants to belong somewhere. She witnesses a suicide that changes her life forever. Shay becomes involved with the people that were close to Amanda (the girl who committed suicide). Shay thinks that Amanda's friends are becoming her friends as well. What Shay doesn't realize is that Amanda's friends set her up for murder. Shay has lost everything and goes on the run, trying to clear her name. This book is a thriller until the very end.

I've seen some split opinions on You Are Not Alone, but for me, this one was another hit by the Greer Hendricks and Sara Pekkanen writing duo. This story features Shay, a young woman who is currently a bit driftless after she's been downsized from her job, feeling pushed out of her apartment by her roommate's new relationship, and feeling isolated in the big city with few friends. When she witnesses a suicide, she starts to obsess over the woman's life- especially as she finds similarities to her own and starts to feel a connection with her friends. The woman's friends want to connect with Shay, too, but they have ulterior motives that become clearer to both the reader and Shay as the story goes on. Anyone who has ever felt a little bit isolated will find a lot to identify with in Shay, and understand some (not all) of the actions she takes to develop connections. I found there to be some truly unpredictable moments in this story that kept propelling it forward, and I devoured it in a day.

Let me preface this review by confessing that I have LOVED the last two books written by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen. Needless to say, I was thrilled to pick up a copy of You Are Not Alone, and it did not disappoint!

Shay Miller is a down on her luck New Yorker, who will do anything to fit in. Unfortunately, her current job and living situations leave little to be desired. Until one day, Shay meets Cassandra and Jane Moore, two ultra-glamorous successful women who befriend Shay. Suddenly, Shay is in their inner circle, and she can't believe her luck. But sometimes all that glitters isn't gold.

WOW. This book truly surpassed all of my expectations. Told primarily from the point of view of Shay and the Moore sisters, it was the perfect combination of suspense, drama and showing how far people will go to hide the skeletons in their closet. Drop everything you're doing and pick up this book!

This was great. Twisty without being gimmicky.
A good slow burn with a third act that had my heart racing.
I couldn't read it at night because I knew I'd stay up too late and I'd keep thinking about Shay.
Loved it.

*I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and I am required to disclose that in my review in compliance with federal law.*

Loved this book! Shay is a down on her luck, a lonely New Yorker whose career and love life are non-existent. Her life totally changes when she witnesses a suicide - a woman (Amanda) throws herself off the platform in front of a train right in front of her eyes.

From this point Shay's life changes, emotionally at her wit's end and vulnerable, she meets two sisters who are friends of Amanda - she can't quite believe that these stylish, lively, vivacious women who seem to have it all have taken such an interest in her and want to befriend her and give her advice. They convince her to do a lot of things she would not normally do, like changing her look and getting rid of her glasses etc. and as a result her life seems to take a turn for the better. Things are going great for Shay until she realises something is amiss.

This is a really good exciting thriller especially towards the end when Shay realises something is badly wrong and goes about trying to find out what is happening to her. I defintely recommend this book! Thanks to Netgalley, the author and St. Martin's press for the ARC..

This was a very good read, but I've come to expect that point with Greer and Sarah's books where I become addicted, and have to continue reading until the end without stopping. This one seemed to lack that for me, but it was still a solid thriller. I think the twist was just a bit of a letdown, so it didn't stick with me as much as their previous books.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This was almost a DNF for me at about halfway through. I was waiting for the book to finally give me any idea what I was reading about. Once I figured out what they were really trying to use Shay for, I couldn't stop reading, which put it at about a 3 overall.
Pros- Shay is so eccentric I love it. Her stats in her stat book give you some random facts but also give you insight to what is about to happen to Shay without completely giving it away. For example, her stat on blacking out- when I read it I thought uh oh what is going to happen to her! Ending also has a twist and leaves you satisfied. Justice is served to all.
Cons- I'm not sure exactly what the point of having the rest of the girls in this "group". The characters were flat and one dimensional. There is not much character development and it doesn't seem realistic that they would join a revenge club. Honestly the whole premise didn't seem believable to me.
Overall this was an easy read. I liked her other books better, but the second half of the book redeemed itself for me.

Actual rating: 3.5 Stars

You Are Not Alone was in general a good thriller, but I was expecting a better plot with more shocking twists and turns. There were a few surprises, but nothing out of this world. I also felt the ending was rushed.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the arc.

This books slaps, y'all. We live in a world where it can feel impossible to make authentic connections and loneliness is the norm for too many of us. In You Are Not Alone, Greer Hendricks gets to the core of how much we're willing to overlook when we think we might have finally found someone that makes us feel seen and cared for.

An added bonus was the way Shay's mind worked when she was trying to cobble together answers about the mystery she found herself in. I don't have a mind for data analysis, but I loved the way she used statistics to make sense of the world around her and navigate through tricky situations.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press in exchange for my honest feedback. I love a mystery that keeps me wondering & guessing the whole way through and that’s exactly what “You Are Not Alone” did! I loved the twists and turns that this book took and I’m a sucker for a story that takes place in the city and has such amazing descriptions of the surroundings and the glamour that it possesses (sometimes!). I truly didn’t know how the ending was going to wrap up and when I finally got super into it I wasn’t able to put it down!!!

The duo behind The Wife Between Us and An Anonymous Girl return with another sophisticated mystery, You Are Not Alone. Like their previous novels, Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen have crafted a story that is both psychological thriller and "Alfred Hitchockian" suspenseful. You Are Not Alone draws you in with an violent beginning, then lulls you into thinking you know where the plot is heading before exploding with twists that blow your theory to pieces. An ordinary Sunday afternoon turns into a nightmare for Shay Miller when she watches in horror as a woman throws herself in front of a New York City subway train. Shay is a loner fascinated with statistics and tries to use data to understand why someone would commit such a horrific act. This puts Shay on a collision course with friends of the dead girl. Sisters Cassandra and Jane are leaders of a tight cirlce of beautiful and glamorous women fiercely protective of each other and the memory of their deceased friend. Shay is thrilled when Cassandra and Jane start to include her in their outings-drinks at high end clubs and expensive dinners with clients of their PR firm. But the sisters have ulterior motives for everything they do. You Are Not Alone is calculating and creepy in a Stepford Wives kind of way. Mr. Hitchcock would have a field day turning it into a movie. Let's hope You Are Not Alone finds its way to another like minded director-Jordan Peele (Get Out and Us) would be the perfect choice.