I liked the writing but the first part of the book was a little hard to get through. Thanks for the review copy.

This one didn’t quite live up to the hype for me. Most of the book was pretty slow, but I really liked the ending.

Who is Maud Dixon? I have to say I was drawn in by the title and the story did not disappoint. Maud Dixon is a pseudonym for the author of a bestselling book that everyone is talking about. Florence Darrow is the outsider at the publishing company where she works. Not easy to like, with big dreams of becoming a writer but mediocre talent. Then she gets the once in a lifetime chance to be the assistant to the reclusive Maud Dixon. She leaves her whole life behind and gets swept up in the elusive life of the author. Then Maud wants to travel to Morocco for inspiration for her next book. What follows are unexpected twists and turns that will have you guessing who is Maud Dixon until the end. Thank you #NetGalley for my copy.

I've heard a lot of good things about this book and it's definitely in my regular genre of books I enjoy, but it took me awhile to get into this story. I would say the best part of the story was the last 25% where things finally came together and wrapped up. And the ending wasn't terribly surprising or twisting, but just satisfactory. Maybe I didn't connect with the characters, I'm not sure what it was for me. I think many would enjoy this story - those that may like a tamer psychological thriller and one without too much blood and gore. I don't feel like I wasted time reading this story, it just took a little longer than normal and wasn't my cup of tea.

Not going to lie the first 50% of this book dragged. Nothing happening. Florence was headed no where and getting herself in trouble as she was attempting to throw someone else under the bus. An amazing opportunity then arises, an assistant to the author who wrote a fabulous novel under a pen name. The author is quirky but offers Florence a chance to travel and work on her own writing. Heading to Morocco and this is where it gets good.
The twists just keep coming until the end! Dang what a surprise.
Recommend the audio of this book, it was very well done and it’s not too long. Give it a chance…. It gets better.

I chose this book purely for the cover, and this definitely did not disappoint. Not quite sure if this is a first purchase, but definitely a backlist bump

Aspiring author Florence Darrow finds herself assistant to the mysterious and secretive best-selling author "Maud Dixon". But when Florence meets the real Maud, she is in for quite a surprise...

I don't often completely predict thriller/suspense novels, but this was very predictable...With such a slow burn and no real action happening until about the 70% mark, I just couldn't get into this. Even with the short chapters, reading more than a few pages at a time quickly became a struggle. I didn't care for Florence. I didn't care for Maud/Helen. I almost completely guessed the entire plot just based off the prologue and this just wasn't for me...

This is such a fun book to read--even though you know something is just now right with the characters, you just can't seem to put your finger on it--like an itch you just can't scratch. None of the characters are wonderful people--in fact its almost like a contest to see who can be the most devious and vicious, but yet as a reader you kind of like them all. However, I would not like to be friends with either Florence or Helen, I found them both fascinating. The reader knows from the beginning that something is hinkey with both women, but the book has to be read to figure out what!!

As I started reading WHO IS MAUD DIXON? I didn’t quite know where the story was going to go. As I started getting further, and just when I thought I knew what was going to happen, Andrews turns the story on its head and takes the reader on a twisty ride.

When Florence Darrow lands an assistant job to a mysterious writer, who writes under the pseudonym Maud Dixon, she believes that this is the path that will finally lead to her career as an acclaimed writer. As Florence follows her new boss to Morocco to conduct research for Maud Dixon’s new book, a terrible accident puts Florence in the hospital and her boss dead. From there, Florence begins to see a different path forward and the story continues to build from there…

I thought this was a unique thriller that was so incredibly clever and smart. I also loved that it centered around a writer and a beloved book, which you hear about in early chapters, but ties in nicely to the plot later on. I also liked Florence’s character, who is kind of a mess but I couldn’t help liking her anyways. There were a number of unlikable characters in this one, but I thought they were so well written that I couldn’t quite decide whether to love or hate them.

This book is definitely a slower burn so I encourage you to go in with an open mind and don’t judge it too quickly during the first half. The second half of the book is a wild ride and I thought overall it was an excellent read! So glad I finally picked this up!

I found the plot line to be drier than I like in a book. While there was intrigue, the characters were all so unlikeable that it was hard to care what happened to any of them. The premise was good but ultimately I found the story lacking anything that really ‘grabbed’ me.

Oh you just love to hate these women!! So many bad choices and an almost fever dream like atmosphere. Loved the twist at the end!

Florence Darrow is basically a nobody at her publishing house with high hopes of becoming a famous author. She will do anything to further her career, no matter how unethical. Just when she has given up all hope, she stumbles into a career move that could change everything for Florence. Helen Wilcox has written the hottest piece of literature to hit the market in years. Adding to the book's success is her desire to remain anonymous. Florence leaves her life in the city behind to work for Helen Wilcox. Helen Wilcox isn't that much older than Florence and her eccentricities surprise Florence. Including a last-minute trip to Morrocco. A tragic accident leads to a case of mistaken identity and Florence feels that all of her dreams are about to come true. Until she realizes that there is more to Helen Wilcox than meets the eye and it could potentially destroy her life. Will Florence be able to get herself out of this situation and back to the safety of the United States?


Who Is Maud Dixon? got off to a slow start, but when things happened, they really happened. Florence Darrow walked a very thin line when it came to ethical and moral issues. Which made her the perfect companion for Helen Wilcox, but it made both of them very tough to like. From the very first time they introduced Helen Wilcox in the story, something just seemed off to me. I chalked it up to being creatively eccentric, but as the story went on, there was more to it. There were a few times after the accident that I got frustrated with Florence. She was digging herself a deep hole that should have been easy for her to get out of, but she dug in. Like I said, it was slow at points, but then holy cow. I couldn't stop reading. And the way it ended absolutely blew my mind. CLICK HERE FOR SPOILERS


Bottom Line - Who Is Maud Dixon? is another one that has appeared on several "Best of 2021" lists and I can understand why. It had some pretty incredible twists, but I cannot ignore the slow parts that had me nearly putting it in the "did not finish" pile. For that reason, it did not land on my "Best of 2021" list, but it is definitely worth the read.

Details:
Who Is Maud Dixon? by Alexandra Andrews
On Instagram
Pages: 336
Publisher: Little, Brown, and Company
Publication Date: 3.2.2021
Buy it Here!
Thank you to NetGalley for the book in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a great winter break read/listen! A little mystery, a little love, a little travel, AND about a writer. I was totally enthralled.

Reminded me of Finlay Donovan Is Killing It - light, but not too - though I liked this one even more!! One of the best thrillers I've read in a while. Definitely recommend!

Who is Maud Dixon? I couldn't wait to read this book and find out- and I'm glad I did!

I was intrigued by the storyline, even before I pick it up, and had a hard time putting it down. I was glued to my Kindle, due in part to the publishing backdrop, but also because I was pulled into Florence's life experiences and her path to becoming Helen's (aka Maud Dixon's) assistant. Throughout the story, their relationship, interactions, decisions, and betrayals, were both so engaging and utterly juicy! Both characters were so well developed that I didn't necessarily like either of them, but was invested in both.

This thriller/mystery took me on a ride and I really enjoyed it! And although I saw some of the twists coming, I could not have predicted how crazy things would turn out in the end, which to me is a sign of a great book!

This is a fantastic debut by Alexandra Andrews. I look forward to reading more of her books in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and Headline, Tinder Press for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

TWO-CENT TUESDAY

Well, here we are, four months (egads) since my last post. I have nothing to blame but wellness (or lack thereof), pandemic brain and malaise, family emergency and probably just sheer lack of gumption. I have a ton of catching up to do and I don't want to let good titles get short shrift because my act hasn't been together, so...

Below are a few (somewhat) brief $.02 opinions about books I've read or listened to recently. This first catchup set happens to include some of the best books I read this year. I hope you'll consider one or two for your own TBR stack if they strike your fancy.

Who Is Maud Dixon?, Alexandra Andrews

The title and cover intrigued me enough to check this out, and the synopsis I read (I try to avoid them for the most part) sealed the deal: low-level publishing worker Florence Darrow thinks she is the next great American author. When she tries some tricks of the trade to leverage a publishing deal, she ends up out on her ass, but soon the opportunity of a lifetime comes her way. She is asked to work as the assistant to the brilliant, best-selling author known as Maud Dixon, a pseudonym hiding one of the biggest secrets in the industry. These two women, both complicated and wily, end up as the basis for a twisty psychological thriller filled with "Oh hell no!" moments. I truly enjoyed every minute, which has been hard to come by this year (and last). I recommend this whole-heartedly.

Florence Darrow is certain that she will be a successful writer. Unfortunately her machinations to endear herself to her boss at a publisher backfires and she's suddenly unemployed. Conveniently mysterious bestselling author Maud Dixon is looking for an assistant and it seems like a dream come true for Florence. Helen Wilcox, the writer behind the Maud Dixon pseudonym, is challenging to work with but the women soon find common ground. Helen suddenly whisks Maud away for a Moroccan "research" trip but things go horribly wrong. Florence wakes up in a hospital after a car accident. She has no memory of the accident but everyone is calling her Helen. Florence doesn't correct them and begins living Helen's life.

I enjoy books about mistaken identity, imposters and identity swaps and this was a fine book. Both of the main characters are such awful people that I didn't feel sympathetic to either of them. On the other hand, that did make the book a fun read.

Florence works as a low-level employee in a publishing house. She always dreams of being a famous writer. When she is is given the job as an assistant to a writer known as Maud Dixon. she leaps at the chance. No one knows Maud's true identity., but Florence knows who she is and uses the opportunity to learn from her. They set off to Morocco to do research for Maud's new book. A car accident ends up with Florence in the hospital, and Maud gone. Florence decides this is her chance and she takes on Maud's identity.. With lots of twists and turns you explore how far one will go to achieve their dreams.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Lots of twists and turns. Hard to tell what was going to happen next. Every time you thought you had it figured out, something else happened. I thought the characters were well thought out and the story line too.

I'm loving all the novels about the publishing industry that have been coming out this year! I absolutely loved everything about this one – the mystery, the characters, the writing. Plus the structure and the way she revealed surprising twists throughout kept me turning the pages, making it a quick read!

Who is Maud Dixon? is one of those books that someone recommended to me and I immediately requested on @netgalley without reading the synopsis at all. And I think it really helped not knowing what I was getting myself into!

Maud Dixon is a big name author- but know knows who he or she is. The real author uses Maud as a pen name to live her life quietly. Florence is a want to be writer who was just laid off from a publisher when the opportunity to be Maud’s assistant is offered to her. She meets the real woman, Helen and she’s… mostly normal. She is currently writing the sequel to her hit Mississippi Foxtrot and decides to go on a research trip to Morocco and brings Florence. They get to know each other better and everything is great until they are involved in a car accident. Florence wakes up in the hospital and everyone thinks she is Helen. Florence quickly decides to leave her old life behind and takes up as Helen.

There’s obviously a lot more to this story and it’s best you don’t go in with too many expectations. This book was weird in such a good way; I was surprised by how much I really enjoyed it. It’s extremely well written. I think it’s been listed as a thriller, and I’m not sure that genre fits. I guess I would describe it as a suspense novel. If you enjoyed the Plot or Kill All Your Darlings, this is one to read. I definitely recommend checking it out and thank you to whoever recommended it to me!

Thank you to @littlebrown and @alexandra.Andrew.author for my copy of the book. Who is Maud Dixon is out now!

4.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫