another predictable thriller with sub par writing and unbelievably unlikeable characters. The ending wasn't worth the agonizing push to finish it.

This was an easy listen and an enjoyable mysterious read. I liked the dual timeline and multiple point of views.

This book was exactly what I would expect from Claire Douglas. It was dark and twisty. I always go in wondering who I can trust and this was no different. She does a good job of setting up red herrings that I fall for. I look forward to more by this author.

YAY MANOR HOUSE SETTING! This one was definitely suspenseful, there were definitely twists and the writing keeps you on your toes. Kind of forgettable in the end though...

I love Claire Douglas's books and this was a fantastically well written and extremely well-paced Thriller. Highly recommended just like all of her other books and I wish that clear Douglas was better known in America. I'm hoping her breakout book will come soon

Ahhh I don’t want to give spoilers so I’m struggling with this review but it has everything I love! It’s a unique plot and not something I’ve read before. I enjoyed reading and getting to know the characters more and more as the story unraveled and the plot literally thickened! I couldn’t decide who I trusted and who was deceiving all of us! The shocking twist halfway through was perfection!

Just Like The Other Girls by Claire Douglas

Pub: January 11, 2022 (US/CAN)

Thanks @harperperennial & @netgalley for the eARC to read and review.

Claire Douglas is on my must-read list. Her books consistently deliver a great mystery combined with strong characters. Just Like The Other Girls is another winner.

The book centres on the elderly Elspeth McKenzie, her new caregiver, Una, and Elspeth’s daughter Kathryn. The energy at the McKenzie home is positively gothic and the perfect setting for the story.

As the plot unfolds, the suspects are endless and I flip flopped between multiple theories. I enjoy how Douglas peels back layers and reveals clues along the way.

The definition of “good” and “bad” isn’t always black and white. It’s in this grey space that the characters shine as we race towards to the finish line.

This story pulled me in from the start and I was always trying to figure out what happened in the past and when I thought I figured it out, I discovered I was not even close. I hated characters at one point and liked them at other times and never knew what to think Of other characters. I wa shocked from the turns this story took and was intrigued constantly

Queen of suspense Claire Douglas has pulled off another fast and gripping psychological thriller. This wasn’t my favorite book of Douglas’ because the plot seemed too repetitive at times with the same things happening, but it is still a fun and entertaining read with lots of twists and turns. For fans of Rachel Hawkins and B. A. Paris.

Creepy and sinister vibes! Una accepts a position as a live in caretaker for the wealthy and eccentric Elspeth McKenzie after losing her mom and breaking up with her boyfriend. The pay is good and Una hopes to save enough to travel by the next year. But, almost right away, things seem really off in the McKenzie household and Una suspects that Elspeth and Kathryn are responsible for what happened to the previous care providers. This story is filled with many secrets and strange happenings and leads to an ending you cannot guess. Thank you Netgalley, Harper Publishing and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. Available now

This was a twisty creepy, thriller. I love how Douglas writes her characters, some eccentric, some very flawed, and everyone with their own baggage. No spoilers, but there was one part of the book that I absolutely did not see coming, and I love when I get surprised and shocked in a thriller. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the E-ARC in exchange for a review.

Una needs an escape and when she answers the call to be a companion for an elderly woman she thinks she found it. As she is sucked into Elspeth’s world she finds a disturbing, cold atmosphere and begins to worry about what happened to the girls before her. Fast paced I couldn’t wait to find out what happened to those girls.
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Thank you #harper and #netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

I really thought I knew what was going to happen in this one, but that plot twist really took me by surprise. This is an addictive psychological thriller that I will be recommending to others for weeks to come! I really enjoyed it!

‘Just Like the Other Girls’ by Claire Douglas was a clever, wild, and immersive mystery. Definitely recommend!

I was hooked early on with this book! The plot really hooks you. This book is very twisty, perhaps to a fault. I definitely found myself frustrated with trying to keep track of who is who, but it is definitely a good book if you like to be left guessing. ⭐⭐⭐

Una Richardson responds to a job posting for a ladies’ companion after the tragic death of her mother and finds herself thrust into the affluent, reclusive world of Mrs. Elspeth McKenzie. But Elspeth’s house isn’t what it first appears to be—a haven. Una’s presence irks Kathryn, her frigid and cruel daughter. Evidence that two girls may have previously resided here is even more unsettling. What became of the young ladies? Why are the McKenzies reluctant to discuss them? What do they have to hide? Una worries that she will become just like the other girls as the walls start to shut in around her.

An innocent young woman gets caught in an ever-more dangerous web of secrecy and deception in this gripping psychological suspense story. Wow, Claire Douglas has succeeded with Just Like the other girls once more. She has never disappointed me since I first became a fan of hers. Another suspenseful thriller by the author. You’re left wanting more since it is so mysterious and suspenseful. with the last twist of her choosing. I liked how Claire Douglas skillfully added more dimension to the story by delving into the dynamics of the family and the intricacy of relationships. I must say that I was quite thrilled with the surprising and thrilling conclusion.

I was sucked into the writing right away by the mystery and action that compelled me to read one more page and all the shady characters. This is one of those books where anyone may be a bad character and you have no idea of their motivations, so you don’t even know how many bad men there are. Additionally, I want to commend the author for having the guts to make a bold choice that was undoubtedly original and unforeseen. A must-read that will have you recommending it to all of your friends. Obtain comfortable seating since you won’t want to put this down. I can’t stress how much I like this.

Just Like The Other Girls is a claustrophobic thriller about a caretaker who answers the ad of a wealthy older woman. When she realizes she isn't the first to take the job, she begins to worry she'll end up just like the other girls. The mystery is intriguing with an unpredictable ending. Highly recommended! Be sure to check out Just Like The Other Girls today.

4.25/5

Just Like the Other Girls is now my second time reading Claire Douglas, and I don't know what happened with the other one I read, but I loved this book! It starts off quite ominously with what will surely be a murder, followed by an ad for a carer/companion, and then into Una's viewpoint. The whole book had a very creepy "someone is watching" kind of vibe which I loved, and I enjoyed that we not only had Una's POV but Kathryn and an unknown as well. There are also a mix of past and present viewpoints for Kathryn, which sounds like it could be confusing, but it wasn't. All the different elements made this a very suspenseful read at times, and Douglas did an excellent job of keeping me guessing. I so thought I knew what was going on, but then the twist hit, and I learned I wasn't even close.

I also recommend listening to the audiobook which is narrated by Georgia Maguire. Considering the different viewpoints, she had to narrate, I thought she did a really great job, and I had a lot of fun listening to her. At times the audio itself was a bit odd with Maguire's voice sounding like it was further away before going back to normal. This might annoy some people, but it didn't happen too often, and it didn't take away from the story for me. Just Like the Other Girls is pretty middle of the road as far as length goes, with the audiobook being about 11.5 hours. I had to set it aside for something else, but if I wouldn't have had to, I definitely would have finished it the same day. I really liked the pacing and the multiple POVs, and this is one of those books where you NEED to find out what will happen next. I highly recommend picking it up if you want something that will keep you on your toes and surprise you!

Thank you to the publishers for my advanced listening and reader copies of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

A great psychological thriller!

The personal care giver aspect was so unique! It's not something I have come across in other thrillers!

The mystery kept me guessing until the very end and the whodunit honestly shocked me. Which is great but I also don't like when the "bad guy" is revealed and it's completely out of left field. It makes it feel just a little too unrealistic I guess?

Ultimately though I really enjoyed the author's writing style and I want to check out her other books for sure!

This mystery was very engaging and I was dying for answers. It was fast-paced and full of twists. I enjoyed it!